Bulletin on the National Grain Output in 2021

National Bureau of Statistics of China

December 6, 2021

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 2021 were as follows:

I. China's grain sown area was 117,632 thousand hectares (1,764.47 million mu), an increase of 863 thousand hectares (12.95 million mu) or 0.7 percent compared with that in 2020. Among them, the sown area of cereals [1] was 100,177 thousand hectares (1,502.66 million mu), an increase of 2,213 thousand hectares (33.2 million mu) or 2.3 percent compared with that in 2020.

II. China's grain yield per unit area was 5,805 kg / ha (387 kg / mu), an increase of 71.5 kg / ha (4.8 kg / mu) or 1.2 percent over that in 2020. Among them, cereals yield per unit area was 6,316 kg / ha (421 kg / mu), an increase of 20.8 kg / ha (1.4 kg / mu) or 0.3 percent compared with that in 2020.

III. China's total grain output was 682.85 million tons (1,365.7 billion jin), an increase of 13.36 million tons (26.7 billion jin) or 2.0 percent compared with that in 2020. Among them, cereals output was 632.76 million tons (1,265.5 billion jin), an increase of 16.02 million tons (32 billion jin) or 2.6 percent compared with that in 2020.

Note:[1] Cereal 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 statistical survey of grain output adopts the method of sampling survey of main varieties, typical survey of small varieties or comprehensive statistics. The main grain varieties in the sampling survey include rice, wheat and corn. The survey is carried out by selecting representative villages and plots based on the province as a whole. 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 images and spatial sampling technology to select survey samples, inventory all crops in the sample plot at the survey time point, and calculate the sowing area of main grain crops. The yield per unit area of main grain varieties is calculated by using the method of real cutting and actual measurement. The total yield is obtained by multiplying the sowing area by the yield per unit area.

2. Survey Sample

At present, the sampling survey of grain output with the province as a whole is carried out in the national survey counties (cities). Nearly 10,000 sample villages were selected nationwide, and three quadrat plots with an area of about 60 mu were selected from each sample village. During the survey season, the investigators and auxiliary investigators of each grass-roots Survey Organizations of the National Bureau of Statistics shall carry out the survey, and carry out the sampling survey on the sowing area of all natural plots in 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 sampling survey of grain yield per unit area is carried out in the area survey plots selected by the national survey counties (cities). A total of more than 5000 sample villages and nearly 30,000 natural plots are selected throughout the country. In each natural plot, 3-5 small quadrats of 10 square feet are selected according to the requirements. Through the actual cutting and measurement of grain crops in the quadrats, the average unit yield level of a grain crop in the province is calculated.

3. Methods for Yield Estimation

The survey of main varieties of grain yield per unit area is 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.