Li Chao, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission’s
Policy Research Office and the commission spokesman, said at an NDRC press
briefing on Sept 22 that China has so far built 1.0 billion mu of high‑standard
farmland (≈66.7 mln ha), irrigated cropland exceeds 1.09 billion mu (≈72.6 mln
ha), and crop seed coverage tops 96%.