China's grain-sown area to exceed 1.5 bln mu

China's grain production has resumed its recovery increase with the policy support of the central government and the impact of grain price rise at market. China sees an increase of 2.5 billion kilograms in wheat output this summer, which turned round the declining of wheat output in the past four years. The area sown of early season paddy rises by 8 million-mu, which put an end to the decline in the past 7 consecutive years. The area sown for autumn crops is increasing and the seedling growth is better than last year. This year the sown area of grains will hopefully reach 1.5 billion mu, thus providing at large a base for gross output of 455 bln kilograms, says Fan Xiaojian, Vice Minister of Agriculture.

The increase of grain output this summer is hard to come by. According to preliminary statistics, a total of 11 billion yuan is allocated as direct subsidy for crops in 29 provinces. By June 15, a total of 6.919 billion yuan has already been paid. Over 1.6 billion yuan has been arranged as subsidy for improved strains in 28 provinces. The central budget has put aside 70 million as subsidy for agricultural machinery and equipment; local finance's subsidy for agricultural machinery and equipment exceeds 400 million-yuan; most provinces have begun invitation for bid of the subsidy for agricultural machine. So far China has reduced and exempted agricultural tax of 23 billion yuan.

Fan says to maintain the current robust growth, work needs to be done in the following fields: further implement and improve policies; strengthen monitoring and take precautions against disasters so as to reduce losses caused by disaster; boost grain production by science and technology; strengthen management of farm supply market and control price-rise of the farm supplies.

Source: People's Daily Online