China News Finance, January 3 (Reporter Xie Yiguan) "We must not relax food production", "Firmly hold the bottom line of ensuring national food security", "Chinese people's rice bowl must be firmly in their own hands at all times."

　　Recently, the central government, ministries and commissions have intensively spoken out that food security has been placed in a particularly prominent position.

Data Map: A rice field in Zhejiang Province.

Photo by Qian Chenfei

Officials frequently speak out to ensure food security

　　On December 27, 2021, the National Agriculture and Rural Department Directors' Meeting was held.

The meeting proposed to firmly hold the bottom line of ensuring national food security.

Do everything possible to stabilize grain production.

　　In terms of specific measures, strictly implement the requirements of the party and the government to ensure the stability of the national grain sown area, and make every effort to implement key measures such as increasing the application of fertilizer in the next spring, and promoting the "promoting weak and strong growth, early growth and growth" of late sowing wheat. Integrated promotion of green and high-yield technology models, pay close attention to disaster prevention and mitigation and machine harvest reduction, with a stand-alone attitude and extraordinary strength, resolutely win the tough battle of guaranteeing summer grain and annual grain harvest.

　　Prior to this, food security was also mentioned at the Central Rural Work Conference from December 25 to 26, 2021.

"We must do our best to do a good job in grain production and the supply of important agricultural products, stabilize the grain area, vigorously expand the production of soybeans and oilseeds, and ensure that the grain output in 2022 will stabilize at more than 1.3 trillion catties."

　　Earlier, "We must correctly understand and grasp the supply of primary products." The Central Economic Work Conference held from December 8 to 10, 2021 stated that "The Chinese people's rice bowl must be firmly in their hands at all times."

　　At the end of the year, the central government and ministries and commissions successively spoke out, revealing the importance of ensuring food security.

Data map: Jiabang terraces in Guizhou, where a bumper harvest is expected from aerial photography.

Photo by Qu Honglun

Why should we strive to ensure food security?

　　On December 6, 2021, the national grain production data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that the total national grain output in 2021 was 1365.7 billion catties, an increase of 26.7 billion catties over the previous year, an increase of 2.0%. It remains above 1.3 trillion catties annually.

　　Although the "18 consecutive harvests" have been achieved in food production, "but with the global spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, my country's food security is facing external challenges, and international food prices fluctuate significantly." Li Guoxiang, a researcher at the Institute of Rural Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Xinnet reporter.

　　Since last year, some countries have begun to restrict or ban food exports. In addition, the weather disasters have led to food harvest failures in many countries. The latest data released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shows that the food price index in November 2021 is 134.4 points, the highest since June 2011. At the same time, it increased by 1.2% month-on-month and 27.3% year-on-year.

　　In addition, in Li Guoxiang's view, the imbalance in the overall structure of food supply and the need to further consolidate the supply of primary products are also two major factors.

"Although we have achieved an overall increase in grain production, we still need to further improve the grain supply structure."

Data map: Aerial photography of the 100-mu ratooning rice demonstration base in Houyuan Village, Jiulongshan Township, Fairy Lake District, Xinyu, Jiangxi. Farmers like to harvest ratooning rice.

Photo by Zhao Chunliang

How to effectively ensure food security?

　　The official has made it clear that there must be a reasonable layout, and the main production area, the main sales area, and the production and sales balance area must be protected for area and output.

The requirements for arable land protection must be very clear. 1.8 billion mu of arable land must be well deserved. Farmland is farmland and must be fertile land.

It is necessary to adjust the structure on the ground, expand the planting of soybeans and oilseeds, and see measurable results.

　　It also pointed to three key points: "keep the red line of 1.8 billion acres of arable land", "conduct high-standard farmland" and "guarantee the supply of primary products."

　　Recently, Tang Renjian, director of the Central Agriculture Office and Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said in an interview that next year, the improvement of comprehensive agricultural production capacity must be placed in a more prominent position, and the potential for increasing production must continue to be tapped.

In terms of production factors, we must firmly grasp the two key issues of seed and arable land; in terms of system and mechanism, we must focus on mobilizing the "two enthusiasm" of the local party committee and government and grain farmers.

　　Earlier, the Central Economic Work Conference mentioned that it is necessary to put the improvement of comprehensive agricultural production capacity in a more prominent position, continue to promote the construction of high-standard farmland, in-depth implementation of seed industry revitalization actions, improve the level of agricultural machinery and equipment, and ensure the reasonable income of grain farmers.

　　According to Mei Xurong, deputy dean of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, it is to strengthen the foundation and make up for the shortcomings under the strategy of "absolutely safe rations and basic self-sufficiency in grains".

"The construction of high-standard farmland and the improvement of the level of agricultural machinery and equipment are related to our country's large population, small land, and lack of resources. Therefore, we must increase the output per unit area. This is formulated in accordance with the overall national conditions. Machinery is an essential link."

　　In addition, in terms of food security, the central level has repeatedly mentioned "guaranteeing the supply of primary products". How to ensure it?

　　Li Guoxiang believes that we must not only work hard to overcome the adverse weather effects, increase grain production and increase grain production capacity, but also strengthen market regulation and stabilize the grain market.

Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, it is also necessary to establish a food emergency supply guarantee mechanism.

At the same time, pay attention to the reasonable import of good grains.

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