September 5, 2007

Increased 2006/07 corn planted area seen in China's Heilongjiang

Corn planted area in China's Heilongjiang province is estimated to have increased to 52 million mu (3.5 million hectares) in 2006/07, up by 7.8 million mu (0.52 million hectares) compared with the previous crop year of 2005/06.

These estimates were released recently by Dai Jinrui, chief of the National Maize Improvement Center of China.

Meanwhile, China's total corn planted area is seen at 421 million mu (28 million hectares) for 2006/07, according to Dai. Corn experts had mentioned that it is raising yields, and not seeking bigger planted area per se, that will be the viable solution in China raising output of the crop.

Harnessing high-tech production methods had led to improved corn yields at Heilongjiang in the recent years. Averaging 370 kg per mu (5,500 kg per hectare), the province's corn yield was above the national average.