China's grain output hits 469.5 million tons in 2004

A senior Chinese official said Tuesday in Beijing that China's total grain output in 2004 reached 469.5 million tons, a hefty increase of 38.8 million tons or 9.0 percent over the previous year.

Both total grain production and average yield of cereals crops in 2004 went an all time high, said Li Deshui, commissioner with the National Bureau of Statistics at Tuesday's press conference.

Average per-hectare grain yield was 4,620 kilograms, up 6.6 percent, said Li.

Total cotton production reached 6.32 million tons, up 30 percent; oil-bearing seeds output was 30.57 million tons, up 8.8 percent; output of sugar-bearing crops was 95.28 million tons, down by 1.2 percent; total meat output was 72.60 million tons, up 4.7 percent; and the output of aquatic products amounted to 48.55 million tons, up 3.2 percent.