China's Henan expects 50 million tonnes of grain output for 2009

China's largest grain producer, Henan Province, is expected to harvest 50 million tonnes this year despite the occurrence of natural disasters, local authorities said Monday (Oct 5).

According to Wei Zhongsheng, chief economist of the Agricultural Department of the provincial government, although corn and rice crops suffered storms in southern and central Henan, the damage was not that severe as more autumn grains were planted this year and the unaffected areas have seen increases in production compared to last year.

Wei added that the province expects the autumn grain to hit 23.5 million tonnes, which could bring the whole-year production to more than 50 million tonnes.

Henan has been China's largest grain producer since 2000. Last year, it produced 53.7 million tonnes of grain, accounting for more than 10 percent of the country's total output.