BEIJING -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday started an emergency food aid plan to Africa after the continent was hit by poor harvest, a MOC statement said.

The MOC will draw up detailed aid measures in coordination with relevant departments and set about to carry out the plan, according to the statement.

China is greatly concerned about the poor harvest caused by El Nino in many African countries. It will provide one billion yuan ($156 million) emergency food aid to the affected countries, as Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in December last year in Johannesburg when attending the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.