A farmer airs reaped grain in Tongliang Village of Shuangfeng County, central China's Hunan Province, Aug 12, 2022. Photo:Xinhua

China vows to maintain its yearly grain output of 650 billion kilograms this year, despite the impact caused by the extreme weather.

August and September are critical periods for the autumn grain production, and officials are paying close attention to the impact of natural disasters and insect pests on grain production, to ensure a bumper year with grain output of over 650 million tons, Fu Linghui, spokesperson from the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday. 

Fu said the sown area for early rice has been stable this year, although the production in some areas has been slightly affected by floods, with expected output likely to be similar to last year.

As for the autumn grain, Fu said, the sown area of autumn grain has increased this year, forming a sound foundation for stabilizing grain production throughout the rest of the year.

Currently, the growth of major autumn grain crops such as corn and soybeans is basically the same as last year, Fu said. 

Fu warned that high temperature in southern China has caused droughts in some hilly land with poor irrigation, while rainfall in North China and Northeast China has caused local farmland to become waterlogged.

China has been suffering from high temperature over recent days, as several regions across the country are sweltering with temperatures hitting 40 C. Meteorologists believe that this year's summer has witnessed the strongest heat wave in six decades, and it is predicted that there will be another two weeks' high temperature in south China.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said it has dispatched 25 working groups and 12 science and tech teams to the key provinces for autumn grain that are affected by high temperature and drought, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

The country saw its summer grain output increase by 1.435 billion kg this year and has harvested over 60 percent of its early rice, according to a press conference held by the ministry in July.

Autumn grain accounts for 75 percent of China's total grain output, while summer grain and early rice make up the remainder.

China aims to ensure the full-year grain output in 2022 reach 650 billion kg, according to this year's government work report.

China attained a bumper grain harvest in 2021, despite COVID-19. The nation's grain output has remained stable over 650 billion kilograms for seven consecutive years as of 2021 and the per capita grain supply hit 483 kilograms, higher than the internationally recognized safety line of 400 kilograms, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Global Times