China's Farm Produce Exports Set Record Last Year

Home>>Business

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 10, 2003

China's Farm Produce Exports Set Record Last Year

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin said Thursday at a national meeting that China's farm-produce exports hit a record high in 2002 and the country harvested 16.5 million tons of soybeans, the most in its history.

Thanks to countermeasures adopted in its first year of membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), China was able to export 200,000 tons of top-grade wheat in 2002, an historic breakthrough, Du said.

Meanwhile, corn exports had reached 9.77 million tons by November, jumping 83 percent year-on-year, the latest customs statistics show.

Though figures on agricultural exports for the whole year of 2002 are not available, the volume had already exceeded 12.62 billion US dollars by September, leaving a surplus of 3.88 billion US dollars, according to the ministry.

China planted 666,600 hectares of soybeans in its Northeast region last year. Per-hectare yield reached 2,617.5 kilograms, higher than in the United States, the ministry said.

Heartened by the success stories of 2002, Du vowed to continue sharpening the competitive edge of Chinese farm-produce industry and add to the coffers of farmers in the new year.

This includes efforts to optimize the crop-growing mix, improve production quality controls and promote science and technology in the farming sector, he said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese Farmers Face Post-WTO Challenges

China to Further Open Agricultural Market

Why Doesn't US Set to 'Use Force' Against DPRK? ( 12 Messages)

New-Generation Nuclear Reactor Put into Use in China ( 2 Messages)

US, Iraq Change from 'Allies' to Enemies: Commentary ( 5 Messages)

To Occupy China's Diaoyu Islands, Japan's Fond Dream for Long ( 2 Messages)

US-Taiwan Military Cooperation 'will Harm Sino-US Ties' ( 8 Messages)