March 6, 2007

Cold weather in northern China wreaks havoc on wheat crop

China's wheat crop this year is taking a beating as analysts say a host of factors such as bad weather and a shift away from wheat to other grains is lowering wheat planting.

The worst March snowfall in half a century hit most of China's northern wheat-growing areas last week, causing temperatures to plummet and posing a risk to winter crops, officials said.

The China National Grain and Oils Information Centre said it was considering further lowering its forecast for winter crops to factor in the freeze damage in its latest forecast.

The centre last month forecast that drought would cut the country's 2007 winter wheat output by 3.6 percent to 94.33 million tonnes. However, the cold weather currently could cause more damage.

While temperatures fell below zero in wheat-growing areas of Hebei and Shandong, temperatures in the top growing province of Henan remained above zero.

One local agriculture official said the damage was minor and that the rain that came with the snow had released Henan from drought. However, colder weather is expected in the days ahead.

A warmer-than-usual winter in previous months had raised the possibility of spring freeze damage now that the weather has turned cold again.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao warned on Saturday that abnormal weather conditions, a warm winter and drought could reduce the country's grain production this year.