BEIJING, Feb. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- China's grain output reached 484.01 million tons in 2005, up 3.1 percent on the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    The report on the country's national economy and social development in 2005 also said China's cotton output decreased by 9.8 percent to 5.7 million tons, and oil-bearing crops output rose 0.4 percent to hit 30.78 million tons.

    Meanwhile sugar production fell 0.2 percent to 95.51 million tons in 2005. The production of vegetables and fruit maintained a stable growth.

    According to the report, China's grain cultivating area hit 104.27 million hectares in 2005, 2.67 million hectares more than 2004.

    The area devoted to cotton-growing, however, dropped 630,000 hectares to 5.06 million hectares last year. Enditem