BEIJING -- China will see a bumper harvest of grain this year, with grain output expected to jump to a record high of more than 550 million metric tons, Vice-Minister of Agriculture Chen Xiaohua said on Sept 29.

Farmers?check their crops on Sept 28, 2011, on their farm in Gongzhuling city, Jilin province.?[Photo/Xinhua]

The strong harvest will mark eight consecutive years of growth for China's grain output.

The sound development of the agricultural industry has supported China's efforts to manage inflationary expectations, improve livelihoods and maintain steady economic growth, Chen said at a news conference.

Last year, China's grain output rose 2.9 percent year-on-year to reach 546.61 million tons, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.