Han Changfu, provincial governor of northeast China's Jilin Province, during a group interview with website reporters in Changchun, the provincial capital, on Friday, December 19, 2008. [Photo: CRIENGLISH. com]

The overall grain output of northeast China's Jilin Province will reach 28.5 billion kilograms this year, an increase of almost 3.5 billion more than last year, said Han Changfu, the provincial governor.

Jilin, known as China's major grain base, generally produces about 25 billion kilograms of grain every year. In 2007, Jilin's total grain production was 25.14 billion kilograms. More importantly, one of every 10 kilograms of the country's commodity grain comes from Jilin, said Han on Friday during a press conference with website reporters in Changchun, the provincial capital.

About 25 percent of Jilin's grain is consumed in the province, while the remainder is sold at market. It is believed that a sufficient marketable grain supply is critical for the entire nation's food security.

This year Jilin Province set a goal to increase its annual commodity grain output by five billion kilograms over the next five years in response to the Central Government's call to raise China's annual grain output to 40 billion kilograms by 2020. The State Council, or the Cabinet, approved the plan in July 2008.

Han added that to help fulfill that goal, the province would undertake a total of 29 projects, including the construction of hydraulic works, reclamation of saline lands and the cultivation of high-yield seeds. Work has started on 19 projects at present, while the rest will begin next year.