China's grain output hits record high in 2023

China's grain output hit a record high of 695.4 million tonnes in 2023, an increase of 8.8 million tonnes compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Tuesday.

This is the ninth consecutive year China registered a grain harvest of over 650 million tonnes. The per-capita grain output exceeded 490 kilograms, surpassing the internationally recognized security line of 400 kilograms.

China's rural industries also experienced robust development last year, especially in the rural e-commerce segment. The country's online retail sales in rural areas surged to 2.49 trillion yuan ($350.8 billion) in 2023, from 2.17 trillion yuan in 2022.

The steady growth momentum in agricultural and rural development in 2023 provides solid support for economic recovery and high-quality development, said Deng Xiaogang, vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs.

A total of 33.969 million people who had been lifted out of poverty were employed in 2023, exceeding the annual target by 3.777 million.

Farmer incomes have consistently grown at a faster pace than those of urban residents. The average annual per capita disposable income of rural households in China was approximately 21,691 yuan ($3,024.5) in 2023, marking a substantial year-on-year increase of 7.6 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Deng also outlined two key areas for China's rural work in 2024 at the press conference, namely: agricultural production focusing on ensuring food security and rural revitalization focusing on rural development, construction and governance.

A State Council executive meeting on Monday also highlighted the importance of promoting rural revitalization.

Officials at the meeting stressed the need to prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, accelerate the development of modern agriculture, consolidate the foundations of food security and promote the rapid income growth of farmers in multiple ways.