News in brief: Despite adverse weather conditions, China, the world’s top grain producer, achieved a huge summer grain harvest of 146.13 million tonnes in 2023. While there was a slight decrease from the previous year, the consistent growth in the summer grain sown area is expected to stabilise annual grain production and support economic recovery.
Worldâs top grain producer, China, has recorded a huge summer grain harvest, despite the negative effects of adverse weather. According to the countryâs national bureau of statistics, Chinaâs summer grain output was put at 146.13 million tonnes for 2023.
This figure represents a 1.27 million tonnes, or a 0.9 per cent, decrease from last year’s. Meanwhile, the country’s summer grain sown area has seen consistent growth for three years running, culminating to 26.61 million hectares this year. The report indicates that farmers cultivated over 23 million hectares of wheat, up by 0.4 per cent, year on year.
According to a statement by the statistic bureau’s official, the bumper harvest of summer grain is expected to lay a solid foundation for stabilising annual grain production. It is expected to provide strong support for promoting sustained economic recovery.
Farmers have been encouraged to grow grain, with government raising the minimum purchase price of wheat and giving them one-time subsidies. Grain yield however recorded a mild decline, with a 1.2 per cent drop, year on year, to 5,491.8 kilogrammes per hectare (kg/ha).
Northern China, its wheat growing region, has been experiencing widespread and heavy rainfall, which was expected to cause a decline in production. In addition, the country’s southeast provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou witnessed drought, which also brought down the yield per unit area.
Thus, its impressive harvest despite these challenges is a boost for global food security which has faced severe blows recently with news of India possible rice export ban and Russia pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal.
China hopes to stabilise its yearly grain output at over 650 billion kg, as a Government Work Report claims, with the goal of beating a 700 billion kg target by 2025 to ensure grain security. This projection is based on the countryâs Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs five-year farming plan.
