China Sees Smooth Run in Agriculture & Rural EconomyAs projected by Ministry of Agriculture the area for summer grain of this year is 0.44 billion mu, decreasing by over 20 million mu as against last year. The summer grain output is 105 billion kilograms, dropping by 10% as compared to last year.The major reasons for the output cut are the reduction of the sown area due to structural adjustment, and the severe drought in major wheat producing areas of the Yellow and Huai Rivers, the Yangtze and Han Rivers, North and Northwest China. The third factor is the continuous low market price for grain, which has affected the input by peasants for production, consequently leading to the drop of unit output. The sown area for autumn grain is estimated to cut by 10%. The grain sown area of the whole year is 1.647 billion mu, declining by about 50 million mu, of which that cut most is wheat and maze making the structure of grain varieties further improved. Due to the improved situation of export in textiles, the market price for cotton has somewhat pickup. The cotton planted area is more than as planned at the beginning of the year and estimated to remain on the same level of last year. But sugar is projected to be at 22 million mu, decreasing by 2.4 million as against last year and that of oil crops is forecasted at 0.23 billion, expanding by 21 million mu. The output for summer oil crops is predicted to be over 10 million tons, rising by 8% while the area for vegetables to expand by 27 million mu. The production of Animal husbandry and fishery grows steadily. Township and village enterprises (TVEs) were developing steadily. From January to April, TVEs achieved the value-added of 772.3 billion yuan, rising by 12.1% with profits totaling 172.4 billion yuan, a rise of 12.7% and tax paid amounting to 63.9 billion, a growth of 14.8%. |
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