July 19, 2006

Climate change may affect China's grain production  

Worldwide climate changes in the next 30 years may cause decreased agricultural output of wheat, maize and rice in China, said Luo Yong, Deputy Director of the State Climate Centre of China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

As temperature rises, the crop belt would shift northward and plant diseases and insect infestations would become more common, but so would investment in agriculture, said Luo.

Climate changes may also have a significant effect on China's water resources. Droughts have become more common in north China since the 1990s floods have similarly ravaged the south for the past 10 years.

Around 2010, the situation is expected to be reversed, with droughts in South China and floods in North China, according to experts.

Worldwide warming would seriously affect China's ecological system. Thus, high temperatures, rainstorms, droughts and forest fires may occur more frequently.