July 30, 2007

China's grain and meat output rises, despite disasters

China saw rises in grain and meat production despite natural disaster and animal diseases taking its toll on agricultural production in the first half of the year.

China's summer grain output climbed 1.3 percent in the first half of 2007 despite  natural disasters, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Grain output hit 115.35 million tonnes, 1.46 million tonnes up from the first half of last year. The output has risen for four years since 2004.

Continuous rainfall this summer has caused widespread floods in many regions in eastern and southern China, damaging huge swathes of cropland.

Summer crops account for 20 percent of China's annual grain output, which jumped 2.8 percent year-on-year to nearly 500 million tonnes last year.

The ministry said the planting area of autumn grains as well as cash crops has risen steadily.

Meanwhile, China's output of meat rose 1.3 percent to 36.52 million tonnes in the first six months of 2007 from a year ago. Egg output was up 2.5 percent hitting 13.5 million.

Dairy products output saw the strongest growth, hitting 16.5 million tonnes, up eight percent.