BEIJING, CHINA – China’s wheat harvest is going better than expected as production has increased by 1% from the previous year, Reuters reported, citing the country’s statistics bureau.

China, the world’s top wheat producer, is projected to produce 135.76 tonnes, with wheat planting acreage up 0.2%.

The Chinese government expressed concern earlier this year that this year’s wheat harvest would be among the worst in recent memory after heavy rains delayed planting.

China has made grain self-sufficiency a top priority as part of its most recent five-year plan. China allocated 5 billion yuan ($743.47 million) in total from its central finance system to stabilize winter wheat output this crop year after the government expressed fears heavy rainfall had significantly reduced planted acreage.

Reuters noted that China has shored up financial support for wheat planting. It has allocated 5 billion yuan ($743.47 million) in total from its central finance system to stabilize winter wheat output this crop year as part of measures to strengthen food security in the world’s most populous country. It also offered 10 billion yuan in subsidies to support grain cultivation and production, alleviate the impact of rising costs and to encourage cultivation of the grain.