BEIJING -- China is likely to see growth in grain output for the ninth consecutive year in 2012 with a bumper harvest expected for autumn grain crops, the country's agricultural minister said here Thursday.

Han Changfu, minister of the Agricultural Ministry, said at a work conference that despite natural and biological disasters, as well as rising costs and global market fluctuations, planting areas of autumn crops are higher than last year's level.

Also, major autumn crops are now in good growth conditions, he added.

China saw growth of 8.2 billion kilograms during the summer grain harvest this year, according to Han, who urged local authorities to prevent damage from temperature drops and pests during the autumn harvest.

A greater number of typhoons this year has given rise to pest damage on the farm, especially in the rice-growing southern provinces, said Han, calling for timely and professional prevention and treatment of such damage.

The country's grain output hit a high of 571.21 million tonnes in 2011, marking eight consecutive years of growth.