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China

GIEWS Country Brief: China (Mainland) 28-August-2010

Attachments

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

- Floods and landslide displaced millions of population and caused localized crop damage

- A bumper 2010 wheat crop gathered and record cereal output expected

- Increased Government support prices for wheat and rice

- Overall cereal supply situation satisfactory and basic food prices stable

Floods and landslide displaced 12 millions and caused serious localized crop damage

From May to August 2010, several areas of China experienced floods that overall are rated as the worst in a decade. Over 12 million people have been displaced and more have been adversely affected by the floods. Severe crop losses are reported at local level and in aggregate 13 million hectares of farmlands have been damaged. The most seriously affected areas include Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shaanxi and Gansu.

On 8 August 2010, a massive mudslide hit the mountainous Zhouqu county of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. As of 27 August 2010, at least 1 456 were killed and 309 are listed as missing. Destruction of large numbers of houses and basic infrastructures is also reported.

Record 2010 cereal and livestock outputs expected in spite of localized losses

Harvesting of the 2010 winter wheat crop, which accounts for about 95 percent of China's annual wheat production, was gathered in June, while harvest of the 2010 secondary spring wheat crop has just been completed.

The winter wheat output is estimated slightly higher than last year's bumper crop, while the spring crop is anticipated to be slightly below the record level of last year due to extremely low temperature at planting time that resulted in the reduction of area sowed in northeast China, the main growing region. In aggregate, the 2010 wheat output is put at about 114 million tonnes, close to the record level of the previous year.

Harvesting of 2010 maize crop was completed in southern areas in August, but is still ongoing in northern parts. The 2010 maize output is forecast at a record level of 166 million tonnes reflecting higher yields and plantings, in response to strong demand from the livestock sector.

Harvesting of the 2010 early rice crop, a small crop accounting for less than 20 percent of total annual paddy output, was completed in July, and production is officially estimated at 31.3 million tonnes, 6.1 percent below the record level of last year. Prospects for the intermediate (single) and late rice crops are reported to be developing under generally favourable growing conditions. The aggregate paddy rice output is 2010 is tentatively forecast at a record 196 million tonnes.

During the first half of the year, total meat output (including pork, beef, mutton, and poultry) is officially reported at 37.13 million tonnes, 3.5 percent over the record in the previous year.