In an interview about China’s autumn grain harvest, recent developments highlight a significant increase in both the area and yield of autumn crops across the country. As of the 24th, approximately 82.5% of the harvest has been completed, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs projecting that China’s grain output, which has consistently exceeded 1.3 trillion jin for the past nine years, is set to surpass 1.4 trillion jin this year for the first time.
Turning to Hunan province, which is known for its extensive rice cultivation, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has reported that the area planted with late rice has reached 19.1 million acres. Harvesting has already started and is expected to wrap up by early November. At the rice production demonstration site in Yawanhuh town, 13,500 acres of rice fields turned golden as harvesters moved efficiently through the fields, producing a bountiful yield. This year, the county of Hanshou has focused on promoting high-quality rice varieties, resulting in a significant boost to both quality and output.
Hanshou has planted over 600,000 acres of late rice. The region’s mechanization in farming has exceeded 85%, which has also played a vital role in increasing productivity. In another area of Hunan, Linxiang’s agricultural demonstration site saw over 1,000 acres of late rice maturing successfully due to high-standard farmland construction.
In terms of yield, late rice in Hunan is projected to average 428 kg per acre, marking a 1.5% increase from last year, with the total estimated output hitting 16.35 billion jin—up 400 million jin compared to the previous year. Farmers throughout the region are making the most of favorable weather to ensure a successful harvest.
Meanwhile, in Jiangsu’s Taizhou, around 2.7 million acres of rice are ready for harvest, and farmers are racing against time to gather the crops in optimal weather conditions. In Chenbao town, high-efficiency operations are in full swing, with combines working closely with transport vehicles to move the harvested rice quickly to drying centers. With forecasts predicting significant rainfall starting October 27, timely processing of the harvested grains is critical.
Across the province, a collaborative service team consisting of agricultural, supply, and electrical departments is addressing safety concerns by inspecting equipment and ensuring a “green channel” for electricity use during the harvest season.
In Huaiyin County, Anhui province, the winter wheat sowing has been largely completed. The innovative combination of intelligent machinery and high-quality farming techniques has greatly enhanced sowing quality. In fields fitted with precision seeders using BeiDou navigation systems, seed usage has been reduced by over 17%, and multiple processes can now be completed simultaneously, significantly improving operational efficiency.
This year, Huaiyin County has allocated 8,873 specialized seeders, with 1,222 equipped with BeiDou technology, to ensure effective sowing for winter wheat. Agricultural technicians have also been providing on-site guidance to farmers regarding optimal varieties and sowing practices. The county plans to sow 1.8558 million acres of winter wheat, and the autumn sowing is now nearly completed.
Finally, in Shandong province, the coastal aquaculture area in Rizhao is experiencing a bountiful harvest with 500,000 spotted grouper coming to market this October. Prices for these fish have slightly decreased as they hit local seafood markets in large quantities. With the cultivation of 11 varieties of grouper and over 1,000 floating cages, the annual production value of this industry is approximately 100 million yuan.
