CHINA (31 July)
Heavy rain in Huai River valley in June caused the worst floods since 1991, affecting tens of millions of residents and inundating several million hectares of farmland in central, eastern, and southern China. Meanwhile, it is reported that some areas in the south suffered from drought, affecting millions of people in eight provinces.
China is expected to harvest less rice this year with the effects of flooding and drought compounding already reduced plantings by farmers in response to weaker prices. China’s 2003 rice output is currently expected to fall by over 0.9 million tonnes, to 175 million tonnes from last year. The output of early rice, already harvested in May and June, was estimated to fall 3 percent year-on-year to 29.5 million tonnes, the lowest level since 1985, due mainly to smaller acreages in response to weaker prices. The intermediate and late rice which just were planted, due for harvest in November and December, was severely affected by the drought.
By contrast, the drought in the northeast has basically eased and there have been sufficient rains in northern maize growing areas. Latest estimates point to a maize output of 116 million tonnes in 2003, reflecting better weather in key growing areas.
China is the world’s second largest maize exporter; exports are expected to reach 13 million tonnes in 2002/03.
The winter wheat harvest was completed in June while the spring wheat harvest is ongoing. Total wheat production estimates in 2003 remain at some 86 million tonnes and the country is forecast to be a net wheat importer in 2003/04.