Winter grain crop area in China shows increase

China's winter grain crop area is predicted to reach 26.7 million hectares in 2009, up almost 1% from last year.

The data was released by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) at a press conference on Monday (Dec 21).

Ye Zhenqin, director of the Planting Management Department of the MOA, estimated that the winter wheat area would amount to 22.5 million hectares this year, up 186,667 hectares year on year.

The winter rapeseed planting area is forecast to grow 126,667 hectares year on year to 6.87 million hectares.

According to the MOA, China will achieve bumper harvest for the sixth year running in 2009 as a result of the increase in crop area.

The ministry also predicted the rapeseed output would set a new record high this year and the oilseeds output would rise more than 3%.