Extensive Reading Lesson 23

中国蒜乡山东金乡大蒜减产成定局

受今年倒春寒天气影响，山东省金乡县的大蒜产量下降已成定局，大蒜减产或将影响今年全球蒜价的形成。

金乡县是驰名中外的大蒜之乡，常年种植大蒜60万亩，每年在金乡县流通的大蒜达160多万吨。

由于今年天气异常，大蒜生长期已经推迟了，往年大蒜成熟期在5月中下旬，而今年则要等到6月份了。一位蒜农初步预计今年自己的大蒜产量将比往年减产两成。

中国近年来蒜价飙涨，预计今年市场上每公斤生蒜的价格将突破历史最高点。根据商务部统计数据显示，一些城市的大蒜价格自二月份的每公斤7.5元人民币左右上升至每公斤20元。金乡县人民政府一官员对记者解释道，造成大蒜大幅度涨价的原因有三：总的供应量减少，国内市场需求量日趋上升，出口量增加。

金乡大蒜出口到150多个国家和地区，出口量占全国大蒜出口总量的70%。

'Home of Garlic' to face crop failure

Hit with a cold spell in an otherwise warm spring, the garlic output in Shandong Province's Jinxiang County has consequently been affected, which may impact global garlic prices.

With 40,000 hectares of garlic farms, Jinxiang is known as the "Home of Garlic." Nearly 2 million tons of garlic are traded there each year.

The harvesting period of garlic, which usually takes place in May, has been delayed until June this year due to the abnormal weather. One local farmer complained that his garlic output could face a 20 percent decrease.

The domestic price of garlic has been rising in recent years and this year it is expected to reach a new high. Statistics from the Ministry of Commerce show that in some cities, the price of garlic has substantially risen from 7.5 yuan/kg (US$1.09/kg) to 20 yuan/kg (US$2.92/kg) since February. An official from Jinxiang attributed it to the declining output, rising demand and increasing export of garlic.

Garlic in Jinxiang has been exported to more than 150 countries and regions and accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's total garlic exports.

(China.org.cn translated by Fan Junmei, May 24, 2010)