Increasing yield per unit: China sets overall grain production targets for 2024

China has established overall targets for its 2024 grain production, aiming to stabilize food grain, maize and soybean production, expand rapeseed planting area, and increase yield per unit area, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The country is committed to maintaining its area of arable land while seeking potential to further expand it, and increasing output while optimizing grain quality. The goal is to secure a total grain output of over 1.3 trillion jin (650 billion kilograms) in 2024.

China's grain output has consistently exceeded the 1.3 trillion jin mark for nine consecutive years, reaching a record high of 1.39 trillion jin in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Facing frequent natural disasters, achieving the 2023 grain harvest was challenging, Qian Qian, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua.

"The foundation of food security must be consolidated, as the consumption upgrade momentum of China's large population has driven up the food demand, and the global trade in agricultural products still faces uncertainties," said Qian.

Measures to improve yields

In the upcoming year, China plans to enhance efforts to increase per-unit yields for major crops. This includes designating 302 counties – 100 for maize, 100 for wheat, and 102 for rapeseed – to join the initiative. 

The country will further promote high-density planting, an effective method to improve crop yield.

To improve the quality of sowing, it will facilitate the application of high-performance seed planters by increasing subsidies for the purchase and use of agricultural machinery as well as promoting financial leasing.

The application of integrated water and fertilizer irrigation equipment will be expanded to support high-density planting by enabling precision control of water and fertilizer.

A project to increase per-unit yield for soybeans will be launched as well next year.