China harvests bumper grain crop
January 25, 2005
Shanghai - After five years of declining production, China harvested a bumper grain crop of 469.5 million metric tons (518 million short tons) in 2004, up 38.8 million metric tons (43 million short tons), or 9.0 percent, from the year before, the government said Tuesday.
The brief announcement by the National Bureau of Statistics did not give a reason for the rise in production.
However, a prolonged shortfall in grain harvests had prompted authorities to raise prices paid to farmers and to order more land to be devoted to grain production this year. Flooding during last summer's rainy season was also less extensive than in other recent years.
In 2003, the total grain harvest of 430 million tons (474 million short tons) was the lowest in 14 years.
State media reports earlier had put forecasts for the maximum crop likely to be harvested at 455 million tons (502 short tons). The total demand for grain in 2004 was estimated at 493 million tons (543 short tons). - Sapa-AP
|
|
