ZHENGZHOU -- China will reap a bumper harvest of wheat and rapeseed this summer, Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu said on Monday.

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The message came amid the worst drought to hit the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in more than 60 years--areas that are key production areas for grain and other crops.

"The bumper harvest of summer grain is of great importance for the entire year's grain production and the national economic development," Han said while addressing a wheat harvest launching ceremony in Henan province.

Surveys by the ministry show the country's winter wheat output is expected to grow for an eighth straight year, with wheat-producing areas increasing by more than 200,000 hectares from the previous year to 27.7 million hectares.

China's grain output rose 2.9 percent year-on-year in 2010 to reach 546.41 million tons, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth.