Bulletin on the National Grain Output in 2019

National Bureau of Statistics of China

December 6, 2019

According to the result of nationwide sampling survey and comprehensive statistics of agricultural holdings conducted by the NBS in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) of China, the total grain sown area, yield per unit area, and total grain output in 2019 are as follows:

I. The total grain sown area stood at 116,064 thousand hectares (1,740.95 million mu), a decrease of 975 thousand hectares (14.62 million mu) year-on-year, down by 0.8 percent. Of which, the sown areas of grain ^[1] was 97,847 thousand hectares (1,467.71 million mu), decreased 1,824 thousand hectares (27.36 million mu) over last year, a decrease of 1.8 percent.

II. The grain yield per unit area amounted to 5,720 kg / ha (381 kg / mu), an increase of 98.4 kg / ha (6.6 kg / mu) year-on-year, promoted 1.8 percent. Of which, the yield per unit area of grain was 6,272 kg / ha (418 kg / mu), increased 151.4 kg / ha (10.1 kg / mu) over last year, and up by 2.5 percent.

III. The total grain output accounted for 663.84 million tons (1,327.7 billion jin), increased 5.94 million tons (11.9 billion jin) year-on-year, and a growth of 0.9 percent. Of which, the total output of grain was 613.68 million tons (1,227.4 billion jin), increased 3.65 million tons (7.3 billion jin) over last year, and a growth of 0.6 percent.

Note:[1] Grain mainly includes rice, wheat, corn, barley, sorghum, buckwheat, oats, etc.

Explanation on Grain Output Survey

The national total grain output combined the total outputs of summer grains, early rice, and autumn grains production in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities).

1. Survey Methods

The statistics of grain output adopted a combined statistical method, i.e, sample survey on major varieties, and comprehensive statistics on small species. The objects of the survey included plots and agricultural holdings. The Survey Organizations at provincial level of NBS were in charge of sample survey of the plots, and Statistics Bureau of provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) were in charge of comprehensive statistics of agricultural holdings.

The main grain varieties in the sampling survey include rice, wheat and corn. The representative villages and plots were selected from the province as a whole to carry out the survey. The sampling survey of grain yield consists of the sampling survey of sowing area and yield per unit area. The sowing area survey uses remote sensing image and spatial sampling technology to select survey samples. At the survey time point, all crops in the sample plot are checked to calculate the sowing area of main grain crops. The yield per unit area of main grain varieties was calculated by the method of actual cutting. The total yield is obtained by multiplying the sowing area and the yield per unit area.

2.Survey Sample

At present, the sampling survey of grain output with province as the whole is carried out in the counties (cities) under national investigation. There are more than 9000 sample villages in China, and three sample plots with an area of about 60 mu are taken from each sample village. In the survey season, the interviewers or assistant interviewers of each grass-roots Survey Organization of the National Bureau of Statistics shall carry out the survey, and carry out the sampling survey on the sown area of all the natural plots within the sample plot and its cover. According to the basic data of the investigation, the provincial grain sowing area is calculated by the provincial Survey Organizations.

The sample survey of grain yield per unit area is carried out in the area survey plots selected by the national survey counties (cities). There are more than 5000 sample villages and nearly 30,000 natural plots in China. In each natural plot, 3-5 ten square foot small quadrats are selected according to the requirements. The average per unit yield level of a grain crop in the whole province is calculated through the actual cutting of grain crops in the quadrat.

3. Methods for Yield Estimation

The survey of main varieties of grain yield per unit area was conducted using real cutting and weighting method. In accordance with "Statistical Report System of Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry and Fishery ", before harvesting of varieties of grains, based on the survey samples of grain sown area, the staff members of Survey Organizations at county level go to the selected village, estimate the output of every piece of land growing grains and sort them, then select certain amount of land plots. During the harvest period, interviewers or assistant interviewers at grassroots estimate the yield of per unit area of the selected plot by cutting, threshing, drying, testing water impurity, weighting, and estimating the losses during the whole process. The Survey Organizations at provincial level of NBS estimate the average yield per unit area of the province (autonomous regions, municipalities) according to yields of selected plots.