In 2014 the national winter wheat sowing area is targeted to reach 338 million mu

Rain at the Autumn Equinox brings a bountiful year ahead. On the 23rd, at the time of the Autumn Equinox, the Ministry of Agriculture held a national video conference on autumn and winter planting, proposing that the country aim to sow 3.38 million mu of winter wheat this year.

Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Xinrong said at the meeting that autumn and winter planting is the start of a year's agricultural production, and also a key battle for securing a bumper summer grain and oil harvest next year. This year's autumn and winter planting must follow the general requirement of “seeking progress while maintaining stability”, stabilize the sown area, strive to raise per-unit yield, and aim to keep the winter wheat area stable at 3.38 million mu and the winter rapeseed area stable at more than 100 million mu.

It is understood that this year's national autumn and winter planting faces difficulties such as greater difficulty in raising per-unit yield, greater difficulty in stabilizing the area, greater pressure to fight drought and ensure sowing and seedling survival, and greater downward pressure on domestic grain prices. The Ministry of Agriculture requires all localities to firmly grasp favorable conditions such as strong signals from the state on valuing agriculture and grain, sufficient and price-stable agricultural inputs, and sufficient and high-quality seed supply, vigorously implement policies to stabilize the area, promote key technologies, improve sowing quality, strengthen management to ensure strong seedlings safely overwinter, and consolidate the foundation for next year's summer grain harvest.

In 2014, the national total summer grain output reached 273.19 billion jin, an increase of 9.49 billion jin over 2013, once again setting a record high.