China expected to expand grain growing area

China's grain growing area is expected to grow by 0.61 percent from last year, according to a farmers' willingness survey the Ministry of Agriculture released on May 7.

According to the survey, the growing area for rice will rise by 0.8 percent, corn by 1.22 percent and wheat by 0.05 percent. At the same time, the soybean growing area is expected to decrease 0.05 percent, the survey said.

The Ministry also said this year's summer grain growing area will increase by 46,667 hectares to 27.6 million hectares.