December 23, 2010

 

China's grain output up in 2010

China's grain production will increase 15.6 billion kg to 546.4 billion kg this year as farmers' per capita net income grows 10% to RMB5,800 (US$865.7), according to a statement released after the central rural work conference concluded Wednesday (Dec 22).

 

Despite floods and drought, the country's grain production will increase for the seventh consecutive year, said the statement.

 

The annual central rural work conference mapped out policies for next year's development of agriculture and rural regions.

 

Minister of Agriculture Han Changbin said the increase in grain production this year is more than expected and supports the nation's overall economic growth.

 

In the coming year, the government will step up research and development into water conservation projects while keeping grain supplies stable, increasing farmers' income and deepening rural reforms.

 

At the Central Economic Work Conference earlier this month, policy-makers agreed to increase subsidies for agricultural production and steadily raise minimum grain purchase prices.

 

They also agreed to boost investment in the major grain-producing areas and water conservation facilities.

 

Han said his ministry will work to increase output in six agricultural production areas: existing major grain-production areas; production areas of important agricultural products like cotton and rape; suburban farms; production bases in eastern coastal regions; large state-run farms in regions including Xinjiang, Heilongjiang and Guangdong; and grasslands and pastoral areas.

 

The central government has invested RMB828.3 billion (US$123.6 billion) to boost grain production and combat natural disasters like severe drought, low temperatures and floods - conditions that affected the nation's agricultural production in 2010.

 

Natural disasters including earthquakes, floods, drought, freezing temperatures, snowstorms, strong winds, hail and landslides have hit China this year.

 

In the first half of the year, natural disasters affected 20.29 million hectares of farmland and destroyed three million hectares of crops.