The condition of China’s winter wheat crop could be the “worst in history”, the agriculture minister said on Saturday, raising concerns about grain supplies in the world’s biggest wheat consumer. As of Monday, approximately 972,100 hectares (2.4 million acres) of crop fields have been affected by the floods in Henan province, raising concerns over food inflation and security. Henan province accounts for almost a third of the national wheat supply and around a tenth of the nation’s corn, vegetable and pork production. Heavy rain will make it difficult to drain inundated fields, raising the risk of disease and infestations that will compound crop losses. Beijing has increased aid to storm-affected areas as fatalities and evacuations have mounted.
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