China harvests half of wheat crop with favourable weather ahead

China’s farmers are making progress on government orders to bolster food security by ensuring this season’s wheat harvest goes smoothly.

The country gathered 55% of its winter wheat crop as of June 6, passing the 50% mark two days earlier than last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement late Monday.

Premier Li Keqiang last month stressed the importance of reaping crops, telling a pre-harvest work meeting that local authorities will be held accountable for obstacles amid fears activity could be disrupted by Covid mobility curbs.

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The agriculture ministry said wheat harvests in Sichuan and Hubei provinces are almost done, and are nearly 80% complete in Henan. In northern provinces including Shaanxi and Shandong, activity is nearing its peak. Weather in the north will be favorable for crop filling, reaping and drying, China’s National Meteorological Center said Monday.

Food security — including domestic production — has become a major focus for Beijing as global shortages push up prices for agricultural commodities and fuel inflation. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and bouts of extreme weather have ruptured crop supplies and spurred a wave of food protectionism.

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While the major uncertainty in global wheat supply is how much grain will eventually be shipped from Ukraine, a decent harvest in China will at least alleviate another risk. Wheat prices have swung since hitting a record in March, with Chicago futures rebounding Monday from their worst week in two months.

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