Do everything possible to stabilize the people's food bags and vegetable baskets

China News Weekly commentator / Yan Xiaofeng

Issued in the 943th issue of China News Weekly, 2020.4.13

There is food in my hand, and I am not afraid.

With the spread of the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic worldwide, agriculture in countries around the world is facing a grim situation, and some countries have implemented grain export bans to give priority to ensuring their own food security. For a time, information and rumors of "food shortage" in the grain market increased sharply. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued timely guidance information: China ’s food reserves are sufficient, and the stock consumption ratio is much higher than the 17% to 18% level proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In particular, the two major rations, wheat and rice stocks, are roughly equivalent Because of the one-year consumption of people across the country, there is no need to snap up hoards.

We have various plans in response to changes in the international grain market, including the establishment of "three lines of defense" for raw grain, finished grain, and processing, storage and transportation. In the short term, the multinational food export restriction policy will not pose a threat to China's food security. First of all, China ’s low dependence on staple foods has achieved the strategic goal of “basic grain self-sufficiency and absolute food ration”; secondly, in recent years, China ’s grain has been continuously harvested, with ample supply and sufficient stocks; third, the Chinese government has responded quickly and effectively Accelerate the organization of spring farming production, make every effort to ensure the circulation and supply of agricultural materials, and ensure that the time of farming is not missed. At the same time, the resumption of production and production of grain and oil enterprises is proceeding in an orderly manner, and the domestic grain and oil market is generally stable.

However, in the medium and long term, it should be noted that China is the main importer of soybeans. Soybean prices will be transmitted to the livestock industry through soybean meal feed prices, which will eventually lead to higher meat prices. Secondly, the international epidemic situation is becoming more and more serious. It is bound to aggravate fluctuations in international food prices, and it is necessary to be vigilant of its chain influence on the domestic market.

To this end, we must take precautions and earnestly control grain production. First, we must do everything possible to protect domestic grain production, deepen the reform of the grain purchasing and storage system, and improve the level of grain emergency management; second, we must continue to promote the diversification of agricultural products import sources, and actively expand import channels for soybeans and other important bulk agricultural products, and constantly adjust imports. The structure of source, prevent and resolve import risks, and ensure sufficient domestic supply and stable prices; Third, we must actively participate in the governance of world food security. Food is stable, the world is safe, and food security is a ballast stone for world peace and development. China must play an active role in maintaining world food security.

At the same time, in the face of the current price increase of "rice noodle oil", corresponding plans and measures should also be proposed. International rice prices have risen for three consecutive months. In China, the current "food shortage" psychology is mainly manifested in the massive hoarding of "rice noodle oil" and the fear that the price of meat and vegetables will soar. In addition to the limited capacity during the epidemic, panic panic buying is another main reason. In addition, the monetary easing policy stimulating price increases is also undeniable.

People take food as the sky. The increase in the prices of staple food and non-staple food will inevitably cause pressure on people's livelihood, especially for vulnerable groups and poor people who are facing unemployment pressure in the epidemic. In this regard, all cities need to come up with effective plans to resolve the difficulties of the people. For example, more than 30 cities such as Nanjing, Hangzhou, and Ningbo have launched consumer coupons ranging from several million yuan to hundreds of millions of yuan, aiming to inspire residents' enthusiasm for consumption and help some industries affected by the epidemic accelerate recovery.

It is an effective adjustment method to stabilize the common people's food bags and vegetable baskets by issuing targeted consumption coupons. Some experts have proposed that we should do a good job well, clarify the distribution process, focus on accurate delivery, and avoid rising prices. Only by focusing on areas where the epidemic has suffered relatively large losses can we play a major role in promoting consumption and stabilizing the economy. The use of consumer vouchers to boost consumption should first satisfy people's demand for "rice noodle oil" and then be a more precise measure. Such limited-term, specific and specific consumption vouchers can play an immediate role, and can also provide inclusive support to thousands of small, medium and micro enterprises in the fields of grain and oil production and consumer services.

"China News Weekly" No.13, 2020

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