Ensuring stability in employment, financial operations, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations is China's overarching goal amid the COVID-19 epidemic. To this end, priorities are given to ensuring security in job, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments. The agricultural and rural system has been playing its part during the process. Specifically, it has been sparing no efforts in ensuring agricultural production and the supply of agricultural products including food. As a result, the agricultural and rural economy has been in good shape, providing a sold foundation for the overall stability in economic and social development.
On 13 July, Han Changfu, Minister of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, presided over a Standing Committee Meeting of the Ministry, outlining the key agricultural and rural tasks in the second half of 2020.
On June 30, Sinochem MAP and Ali Digital Agriculture signed a cooperation agreement. The two sides expect to establish 10 to 15 digital agricultural bases focusing on varieties like rice, apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, kiwi fruits, and vocitrus in the following three years, thus embarking on their strategic cooperation based on digital agriculture.
On 15 July, China's National Bureau of Statistics released the data on the national summer grain production. According to the data, in 2020, the national output of summer grain was 142.81 million tonnes (142.81 billion kg), up by 0.90% or 1.21 million tonnes (1.21 billion kg) YoY. Among the output, wheat output reached 131.68 million tonnes (131.68 billion kg), up by 0.60% or 756,000 tonnes (0.76 billion kg) YoY. 2020 saw a slight decrease in the planting area of the summer grain, yet an increase in the yield per unit, which not only led to another bumper harvest, but also brought the output of summer grain to a record high.
Large-scale mechanized harvests of wheat nationwide had come to an end as of early July. According to research of MOA and on-site analysis of experts, the producing areas of summer crops in 2020 remain stable and the yield per mu increases, which continues the successive bumper harvest for the 17th year.
MOA issued the Notice on the Implementation of Agricultural Germplasm Resource Protection and the Registration of Agricultural Germplasm Resources, and released relevant plans in order to implement the Opinions of the State Council on Strengthening the Protection and Utilisation of Agricultural Germplasm Resources. According to the Notice, efforts will be made to implement the protection of agricultural germplasm resources, promote the registration of the resources, and build relevant big data platforms.
On 14 July, the 3rd Preliminary Review Meeting of the 9th Heilongjiang Provincial Crop Variety Review Committee has wrapped up. At the meeting, altogether 356 varieties have been approved, namely, 106 corn varieties, 140 rice varieties, 100 soybean varieties, and 10 wheat varieties.
On 16 July, 2020, as required by the Measures for the Approval of Key Crop Varieties and the Rules of the Nomenclature of Agricultural Plant Varieties, the Bureau of Seed Management, MOA released the list of key crop varieties approved of by Shaanxi Province on 9 July, 2020, and the result was available for public review.
On 6 July, 2020, the 33rd Tianjin Municipal Crop Variety Review Meeting wrapped up. At the meeting, altogether 6 rice varieties including Jindao 777 and 6 corn varieties including Zhenghong 859 were approved.
According to China Customs, dual MoM declines were seen in import and export of vegetable seed in June, 2020. China exported 84,322 kg of vegetable seed in June, 2020, with the value of USD2,275,126, down by 65.37% and 62.97% MoM, respectively. A total of 737,764 kg of vegetable seed were imported to China in June, 2020, with the value of USD20,589,087, down by 10.23% and 13.74% MoM, respectively.
Table of Contents
Column 1 Market Dynamics
In H1, 2020, agricultural and rural economy registers stable performance with good momentum for growth
MOA outlines key agricultural and rural tasks in H2, 2020
10 Events of Agro-Tech Extension in H1 of 2020 released
Sinochem and Ali to jointly build 10-15 digital agricultural demonstration bases
China reaps bumper summer harvest
Yield per mu of wheat in each major producing province increases in 2020
MOA starts tiered and classified registration of agricultural germplasm resources
Column 2 Variety Dynamics
Altogether 356 varieties pass 2020 Heilongjiang Provincial Crop Variety Review
List of varieties approved of by Shaanxi Province in 2020
List of crop varieties passing 33rd Tianjin Municipal Crop Variety Review
Column 3 Brief News
MOF's support for construction of high-standard farmland to help ensure food security
CAAS meeting on measures to accelerate Technology-Driven Wheat Growing Project
China National Rice Research Institute showcases new conventional early indica rice varieties
List of companies granted crop seed producer and dealer license in Inner Mongolia
New potato varieties and green technologies help eradicate poverty
BASF establishes a partnership with Longping High-Tech and Winall Hi-Tech
One-step approach to produce seeds of hybrid varieties by CAAS
NATESC hosts National Online Meeting on Occurrence of Mid-Late Rice Diseases and Pests
Qiule Seed plans IPO on the STAR Market
7th Ningxia Seed Industry Expo kicks off
Column 4 Import and Export
China sees dual MoM declines in import and export of vegetable seed in June, 2020
Column 5 Price Update
Domestic quotations of wheat seeds in July 2020
Domestic quotations of soybean in July 2020
Domestic quotations of rape seeds in July 2020