Chinese Whispers

Despite widespread doubts as to the validity of official Chinese claims to have had another bumper harvest year in 2009, China's Ministry of Agriculture insist that they are not talking complete rubbish.

A story today on the thoroughly excellent Agrimoney.com quotes the head of the planting administration department at the Ministry downplaying talk of drought damage earlier in the year.

Not only that, he even goes one step further revealing that winter wheat plantings so far have reached 22.5 million hectares, a nice convenient modest increase on year ago levels. Steady away.

Isn't it incredible how China never have so much as even a mini crop wobble, let alone a disaster?

It can't be a coincidence that the most popular dice game in China is called Liar's Dice.