One of China's major grain producing areas, the central province of Henan, recorded a record harvest of 50.55 billion kilograms this year, a rise of 10.3 percent year-on-year.

The provincial agricultural authorities said on Friday the output had topped 40 billion kilograms for eight consecutive years to the end of 2004. Henan's grain output topped 45 billion kilograms last year and jumped to a record 50.55 billion kilograms this year.

The increasing output was partly attributed to the expansion of cultivated land, according to local agricultural authorities.

The acreage of crops had increase by 4.92 million hectares annually in the past three years and by 9.3 million hectares this year.

Henan's grain output accounts for one-tenth of the national total and its wheat output makes up a quarter of the national total.

With three consecutive years of bumper crops, China's grain output is expected to exceed 490 billion kilograms this year.

Henan provincial government has adopted policies to encourage farmers to grow crops, such as exemption of farm taxes and subsidies for growing crops and purchasing agricultural machinery, fertilizers and other materials.

This year alone, the provincial government allocated 3.04 billion yuan (390 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies and 30 billion yuan to improve rural living standards and agricultural production.

Source: Xinhua