(Observation of the Two Sessions) How to hold the "rice bowl" of more than 1.4 billion people?

　　China News Agency, Beijing, March 6th: How to hold the "rice bowl" of more than 1.4 billion people?

　　China News Agency reporter Yuan Xiuyue

　　Food security is related to the national economy and people's livelihood. As a big country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, how to make the people's "grain bags" bulge has always been a problem for China.

　　The government work report proposes to fill the "rice bag" and enrich the "vegetable basket", so that the rice bowls of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people will be firmly in their own hands.

What does the government work report stress about "holding a job in prison" mean?

How does China keep the "rice bowl" behind bars?

Data map: On February 25, in Zhoutou Village, Tangzhou Town, Taihe County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, the land after spring ploughing and production has consistent lines and textures, like the fingerprints of the earth, which is spectacular.

Photo by Deng Heping

It is of great significance to serve the "rice bowl"

　　At the first "Minister's Channel" of the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress on the 5th, Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, mentioned that in the past two years, due to the superimposition of the epidemic and disasters, food security and food crisis have been hot topics. , I believe that everyone has a deeper and more real understanding of the phrase "have food in your hands, don't panic in your heart".

　　Over the years, China's grain harvest has been bumper every year.

According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China recently, China's grain output has remained stable at more than 1.3 trillion kilograms for seven consecutive years.

　　Under the situation that the total food supply is sufficient, the Central Economic Work Conference in 2021 and the Central Document No. 1 in 2022 have successively stated that "the Chinese people's rice bowl must be firmly in their own hands at all times."

The government work report further emphasizes that the jobs of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people are firmly in their own hands.

　　"This expression conveys the country's confidence and determination to ensure food security. Historically, the issue of food security has never been an economic issue, but a political issue. We should be highly vigilant about neoliberalism about 'free trade, food can be Import' wrong remarks, adhere to the bottom line thinking, and ensure that the Chinese people's jobs are always in their own hands." Zhang Hui, dean of the School of Marxism at China Agricultural University, told a reporter from China News Agency.

　　"Under the current circumstances, it is of great significance to emphasize 'holding a prisoner's rice bowl'." Li Guoxiang, a researcher at the Institute of Rural Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that this expression conveys the assurance that any Chinese can have food and clothing at any time and under any circumstances. Worry, not only to eat enough, but also to eat well and eat with confidence.

Data map: The scene of wheat opening sickle.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhai Yujia

Hold the "rice bowl" steadily

　　The Chinese have the ability and confidence to secure their jobs by themselves, but at the same time, as the uncertainty of the external situation increases, tightening the clockwork of food security is not a one-time thing.

　　Tang Renjian revealed that this year's grain production is indeed facing great difficulties. The first is summer grain production. Last year, the five provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi and Shanxi were affected by the rare autumn flood. The late-sowing area of ​​winter wheat reached 110 million mu, which was half later than the normal situation in previous years. months or so, this accounts for one-third of the total winter wheat area.

　　Li Guoxiang said that since last year, international agricultural prices, especially food prices, have still fluctuated wildly. Recently, international wheat prices have also surged. In addition, some areas were affected by extreme weather conditions last year, as well as the spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and the turbulent international situation. There are many stable factors.

　　The government work report mentioned that the stable production and supply of important agricultural products such as grain should be strengthened.

It can be noticed that the word "steady" becomes the key.

　　Wu De, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and president of Sichuan Agricultural University, said that the word "steady" contains four meanings: first, to stabilize the red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land; second, to stabilize the output and quality of grain; The fourth is to stabilize people's concerns about food consumption.

Data map: Colorful rice fields.

Photo by Zhou Xingliang

It takes multiple hands to serve the "rice bowl"

　　China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has previously stated that food demand will continue to be a growing trend for at least the next three decades.

In the face of the growing food demand of more than 1.4 billion people, how can we hold the "rice bowl" behind bars?

　　Tang Renjian said that the core of ensuring food production throughout the year is to protect the area.

It is necessary to truly manage and manage cultivated land well, curb "non-agriculturalization", and at the same time prevent "non-grainization".

　　Li Guoxiang believes that in addition to protecting cultivated land, we must also find ways to expand cultivated land, make full use of idle farmland, improve the ecological environment through the construction of water conservancy facilities, and increase cultivated land resources.

In addition, it is necessary to continue to improve the ability to deal with natural disasters, and to give early warning of extreme disaster weather in a timely manner.

Improve the level of agricultural mechanization equipment and increase farmers' income from growing grain.

　　Wu De said that the government work report covers four measures: first, strengthen the comprehensive management and protection of cultivated land; second, strengthen the research and application of agricultural science and technology, and promote the revitalization of the seed industry; third, improve the level of agricultural mechanization; fourth, improve the prevention of agricultural meteorological disasters and animal and plant disease control capabilities.

　　Tang Renjian pointed out that although the food supply and demand has always been in a state of tight balance, and this year's food production has encountered great difficulties, the current total food supply is abundant.

　　"No matter how the international situation changes, we have the ability to ensure that the 1.4 billion Chinese people will have their meals on time every day, and they will not be hungry, and their jobs will be more stable and better," he said.

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