July 13, 2007

China's farmers urged to grow more grain, despite record harvests

In spite of the fact that China is expecting its fourth consecutive year of bumper crop this year, there is much for the government to do to ensure a stable food supply, according Sun Zhengcai, minister of agriculture.

Although the summer grain harvest has been favourable, it only accounts for a quarter of the year's harvest in terms of yield.

Harvests are still at the mercy of weather, diseases, pests, fertilizer and energy costs.

Moreover, farmland acreage are expected to be reduced further this year. China's farmland at the end of 2006 was 1.827 billion mu ( 121.8 million hectares) a 6 percent drop from 10 years ago.

Sun said the ministry would do its best to keep the country's farmland above the warning line of 1.8 billion mu and implement policies encouraging farmers to grow more grains. It will also seek to limit reduce damages from natural disasters.