Will 260 million people encounter a food crisis due to the epidemic? ! Will the price of rice noodle oil increase? Hoarding?
Three meals a day, food is essential. The topic of food always touches people's hearts.
On April 21, the World Food Program stated that as the spread of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic impacted the global economy, the global population facing a severe food crisis may increase to 265 million in 2020.
265 million, which is not a small amount. Moreover, it is still a serious food crisis!
The inflection point of the global epidemic has not arrived, and a series of questions about food have come one after another-
Where will the global food crisis occur? There is no food crisis in our country. Will there be a price increase crisis? Is excessive food hoarding necessary? What are the consequences?
What a terrible!
One in five Africans is undernourished
According to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 113 million people are currently in severe food insecurity. They are already in a state of extreme hunger and are weak and unable to withstand the virus.
According to the World Food Program, this number may increase to 265 million people this year.
Experts believe that the "life gate" of global food supply is not production but circulation. In particular, the global food industry chain is far weaker than people think, and a series of export restrictions are being implemented, which is likely to cause market shortages.
As of the end of March, 12 countries around the world have introduced measures to restrict grain exports, which severely interfered with the entire grain supply chain.
So, where is the most food scarce?
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations stated that one fifth of the African population is facing food shortages.
In Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, sustained severe droughts and successive years of poor harvests have caused 12 million people to suffer from food shortages. In December last year, swarms of locusts attacked their crops again. To make matters worse, they are now facing the test of a new coronary pneumonia epidemic.
In addition, the Sahel region of Africa, the Central African Republic, Congo, and South Sudan are also facing food crisis.
do not worry!
China's food prices will not soar
China's food supply situation is relatively optimistic.
The "China Agricultural Outlook Report (2020-2029)", recently released by the Market Early Warning Expert Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Areas, predicts that China's grain and other important agricultural products can fully achieve stable production and supply.
It is understood that China's total grain inventory is at a record high, and rice and wheat can be eaten by the Chinese for more than 1 year.
Han Changfu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, was even more confident: China will not have a food crisis, and 1.4 billion Chinese people are firmly in their hands!
Although there is no food crisis in our country, many netizens are worried about the price hike crisis.
In this regard, experts said that despite putting their hearts in their stomachs, China's grain prices will not rise sharply.
China's grain prices are mainly "policy cities". At present, China's grain reserves are very sufficient, and grain production is better this year, and it is relatively easy to control grain prices.
In the long run, with the continuous improvement of the grain price formation mechanism, the grain price will fluctuate within a reasonable range, which will not only allow ordinary people, especially low-income groups, to afford grain, but also give farmers the enthusiasm to grow grain.
"China Agricultural Outlook Report (2020-2029)" also pointed out that in the next 10 years, China's agricultural transformation and upgrading will be significantly accelerated, and the production and supply capacity of grain and other major agricultural products will be greatly improved.
Not necessary!
It's not wise to blindly store food
As soon as there is a turmoil about food, someone will snap up and stock up on the food.
This is not true. Some people "prefer to have it rather than have nothing" about the lack of food. Under the influence of the epidemic, many people rushed into the supermarkets to sweep goods madly. After the vast crowds passed, there was little left for commodities such as rice noodle oil.
Is this scene familiar? Remember the salt that you ca n’t eat?
After the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in 2011, rumors of "sea salt will be contaminated and salt supply is inadequate" have hit, and there has been a crowd of people rushing to buy salt in many parts of the country. However, there was only one mess left after the salt hoarding craze: it turns out that we are not short of salt!
At that time, there was no shortage of salt. Now, we are not short of food.
Experts remind that blindly hoarding food is not a wise move.
In the context of the country's lack of food, spend large amounts of money to turn dealers' inventory into their own inventory. If you fail to do so, the food will deteriorate, and economic losses can only be paid by yourself!
Food is still new. Hoarding rice, flour and other food at home for a long time will not only affect the quality and taste, but also easily cause insects.
More importantly, if everyone is following the trend of hoarding grain, it may make the situation of abundant supplies, but temporary supply shortages occur, affecting the normal market order. In the end, consumers will be hurt!
Source: Economic Daily WeChat Official Account (ID: jjrbwx)
Coordination: Viewpoint Studio Guo Cunju Li Tong
Reporter: Qiao Jinliang