China achieves record grain output and strengthens anti-poverty measures

China's summer grain output this year exceeded 150 million metric tons for the first time, while early rice production has remained above 28 million tons for six consecutive years, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Zhang Zhu said on Tuesday.

Autumn grain, which accounts for the largest share of the country's annual harvest, is now being harvested across large areas, putting the country on course for another strong grain harvest, he said.

China has also made a stable start in its efforts to provide regular and targeted assistance to people at risk of falling back into poverty.

"This year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, and agricultural and rural development has maintained steady and positive momentum," Zhang said.

A monitoring and working mechanism for regular targeted assistance has largely been established. All 2.56 million people identified as being at risk of falling back into poverty have received targeted support, helping maintain a firm safeguard against a large-scale return to poverty.

Meanwhile, rising rural incomes and improvements in agricultural and rural modernization have provided support for the broader economy, he said.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will focus on improving both agricultural output and quality, while strengthening overall production capacity and economic returns, Zhang said.

The shift reflects changing consumer demand, requiring China not only to ensure stable supplies of agricultural products but also to improve their structure and quality, he said.

China will continue to prioritize grain production by stabilizing planting areas and increasing yields. At the same time, it will develop a more diversified food supply system, optimize the mix of agricultural products and improve quality, moving agriculture from an emphasis on output toward a greater balance between quantity and quality.

Technology and reform are twin drivers of agricultural and rural modernization.

"Building a strong agricultural country depends on technology, while the key lies in reform," Zhang said.

China will promote technological and institutional innovation while strengthening the integration of technological advances with industrial development.

Efforts will focus on achieving greater self-reliance in agricultural science and technology and integrating improved farmland, crop varieties, machinery and farming practices to raise efficiency, Zhang said.

The government will also continue deepening rural reforms, including pilot programs to extend rural land contracts for another 30 years after the expiration of the second round of contracts, he added.