China closes in on grain output goal

China is making great progress in reaching its goal of increasing its national grain output, aided by the accelerating development of agricultural technologies and innovations, experts said.

Economists expect that with the rising yield per unit of arable land, the nation will reach its target of ensuring self-sufficiency in a wide range of grains and other foods in the foreseeable future.

Zhang Lubiao, a senior official of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said China must continue to satisfy 95 to 100 percent of its own consumption of major grain products to ensure national food security.