BEIJING: China harvested a record summer grain crop this year despite unfavorable weather, while supplies of meat, vegetables and other major agricultural products remained ample in the first half of the year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday.
Meanwhile, efforts to curb a prolonged downturn in the hog market are beginning to take effect, although pork supply still exceeds demand, officials said.
Zhang Xingwang, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said summer grain production reached a record 150.75 million metric tons. The harvest overcame challenges including delayed sowing across large areas and multiple rounds of rainfall during the harvest season, he said, calling it a strong start to this year’s grain production.
Autumn grain planting is expected to increase slightly from last year, while crops currently in the fields are generally growing well, providing a solid foundation for another annual grain harvest, Zhang said. Supplies of meat, vegetables, fruit and aquatic products also remained sufficient, he added.
During the first half of this year, China’s output of pork, beef, mutton and poultry reached 50.5 million metric tons, up 4.3 percent from a year earlier. Aquatic product output rose 4.4 percent to 35.12 million metric tons, while fruit and vegetable supplies remained stable.
China’s efforts to rein in pig production have also begun to show results, Zhang highlighted.
The national breeding sow herd has been reduced to 37.8 million, returning to an appropriate range under the government’s production control system, he said.
Chen Bangxun, head of the ministry’s Department of Development and Planning, said China’s hog market has started to recover after months of government intervention aimed at addressing the industry’s cyclical downturn.
The ministry has implemented a range of measures this year, including adjusting production, encouraging consumption and strengthening market regulation.
“Since late June, supply and demand have become more balanced, hog prices have begun to recover and losses for pig farmers have narrowed,” Chen said.
However, Chen cautioned that pork supplies remain abundant, and the market has yet to fundamentally shift away from an oversupply situation.
The ministry will continue monitoring production capacity, issue more frequent market forecasts and guide farmers to better match production with demand, he said.
Chen also urged pig producers to closely follow market conditions and adjust production plans accordingly to help avoid sharp swings in pork prices and maintain the market’s gradual recovery.
The ministry also highlighted progress in rural reforms. More than 29 million rural households have signed new land-use contracts under pilot programs extending rural land contracts for another 30 years after the current round expires.
According to official statistics, rural residents’ per capita disposable income reached 12,699 yuan ($1,875) in the first half of the year, an actual increase of 5.5 percent, outpacing income growth among urban residents by 2.1 percentage points, the ministry said. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
