Millions of farmers celebrated the third harvest festival on September 22， anticipating a bumper crop. Despite fl oods in the south， droughts in the north， typhoons and the novel coronavirus disease， the hard-won autumn harvest has fulfi lled expectations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said this years autumn grain production remains on target， citing better-than-expected pest control and quick recovery from the summer floods. Autumn grain cultivation， which accounts for the bulk of the yearly production， is expected to reach 85.6 million hectares this year， an increase of over 333，000 hectares.

The Chinese Farmers Harvest Festival was started in 2018 to promote the development of agriculture and rural areas. It coincides with the autumnal equinox， falling between September 22 and 24 during the harvest season.

The festival is also a stimulus to farmers to participate in the development of the areas where they live and work.

（Photos by Xinhua News Agency）