The autumn grain crop harvest in China is projected to be 10% less than usual levels. This will further increases prices of raw materials and food products, a local Chinese newspaper reported.
Vice premier Hui Liangyu urged the country to do everything possible to
maximise the autumn grain harvest, despite natural disasters that had affected
production in some areas. Hui’s comment came as high prices for food, such as
pork, raised July inflation to 5.6%, the highest in 10 years.
The
newspaper said drought had hit about 11 million hectares of arable land in China
so far this year, 1.7 million hectares more than last year, while about 8
million hectares had been flooded. China’s arable land totals about 100 million
hectares. The autumn grains, including maize, rice and soybeans, are to be
harvested in late September.
Earlier
news reports stated that the total Chinese grain output is not affected
by natural disasters.