During the first half of March, in eastern parts, temperatures 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal favoured developing winter wheat, whilst showers along the Yangtze river basin increased moisture supplies for winter crops. Although seasonably light rain was received in southern parts of the country, overall rainfall has been below normal. Winter wheat production in 2001 is forecast at around 92.5 million tonnes, over a million tonnes higher than earlier forecast.
Winter wheat accounts for most of the country's wheat produced annually.
The area planted is estimated at around 23 million hectares, 1.17 million hectares or and almost 5 percent below 1999.