China's grain production in 2006 is expected to continue rising despite the decline in world cereal production, agricultural experts said.

"There is a high possibility that China will have a good harvest this year," said Ma Xiaohe, an agricultural expert with the National Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday.

The decline of grain production, which lasted five years, ended in 2004 when its total output rose to 469.5 million tons. It continued its upward trend by increasing 3.1 percent in 2005.

Ma attributed the expected growth this year to more planting areas and the government's policy of encouraging farmers to plant crops.

The idea was shared by Nourddin Mona, China Representative of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), who predicted that the overall trend of harvest in China this year will not change following the easing of the drought situation in the northern part of China.

Government statistics show that the sustained drought in June had affected 156 million mu (10.4 million hectares) of cropland  nationwide, mostly located in the western and northern parts of the country.

Media reports have suggested that China should import more grain this year to make up for a possible decrease in production.

However, Ma told Xinhua that the impact of drought on China's overall grain production this year will be limited as proper measures have been taken to ensure grain production.

Since 2004, the Chinese government has increased investment in irrigation in order to reduce the impact of drought on agriculture.

Despite the unfavorable weather, China announced this month a good harvest of summer wheat, which accounts for about 20 percent of China's overall grain output.

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