Bumper grain harvest possible this year despite outbreak

China stands a good chance for a bumper grain harvest this year despite the novel coronavirus outbreak's weight on the manufacturing and hospitality sectors, according to an official with the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs on Tuesday.

Wei Baigang, head of the ministry's Development and Planning Division, said the added value of crops so far this year has increased 3.5 percent year-on-year, underscoring stable progress in the rural economy.

Wheat, a major staple in China, has been growing well and will be harvested in about a month, he said, adding that spring planting has been underway, with 30 percent completed.

Wei said China's annual grain output has stayed above 650 billion kilograms for the past five consecutive years, and expressed confidence that 2020 could be another bumper year given the situation.

The hog population has grown by more than 10 million, or 10 percent, in the first quarter compared with the level at the end of last year, and the sow population has increased by 3 million, or 9.8 percent during the same period, he said.

He added that the price of pork has been falling for 10 consecutive weeks, and the price drop reached 12 yuan per kilogram. Prices for fresh vegetables and fruits have returned to pre-epidemic levels. Production of fodders, fertilizers and other agricultural products has recovered.