BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Tuesday called for more efforts to support grain production in order to ensure an increased harvest for the ninth consecutive year.

Hui said during an inspection tour in northern China's Hebei province that ensuring the summer crop harvest and realizing the annual goal of steady growth in grain production hold prime significance in stable economic and social development.

Hui urged all local authorities to enhance their support for grain and agricultural production, properly manage the farming of summer crops and guide farmers in spring plowing and sowing.

Local authorities should also enhance technical instruction, increase supplies of agricultural materials and push forward scientific disaster relief work in order to ensure increased grain production for the ninth consecutive year.

China's grain output hit a record high of 571.21 million tons in 2011, marking eight consecutive years of growth.