(Yicai) July 10 -- China's summer grain harvest remained essentially stable this year despite drought conditions, according to official data.

Output of grain planted last fall and harvested from May to June declined 0.1 percent year-over-year to 149.7 million tons, the National Bureau of Statistics announced today.

Summer grain, primarily wheat, accounts for at least one-fifth of China's annual grain production and is essential for the nation's food security. Last month, several breadbasket regions, including Henan, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu, were grappling with severe droughts.

The situation remains stable, the NBS said, noting that despite adverse factors, the planting area for summer grains has remained essentially unchanged, with steady yields.

The average yield reached 5,634 kilograms per hectare, an increase of 1.5 kg from a year ago. Despite dry spells, yields remained steady due to drought mitigation efforts, the absence of other disasters, and measures to enhance productivity, according to the NBS.

The summer harvest has laid a solid foundation for stabilizing annual grain production and provides strong support for coping with the complex and challenging international situation, as well as for promoting the continued recovery and improvement of the economy, the NBS stated.

Planting area decreased just 0.1 percent to 26.6 million hectares this year compared to a year ago, due to strict protection and controlled use of arable land, promotion of high-standard farmland development, increased efforts to rehabilitate abandoned land, and further exploration of planting potential.

Additionally, continuous policy support has encouraged farmers to grow grain and motivated local governments to prioritize grain production. Furthermore, climate conditions were favorable throughout the planting period.

Editor: Emmi Laine