China has set a target of increasing its grain capacity by an additional 50 million tonnes as part of measures to boost food security, according to Premier Li Keqiang. Speaking at the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, the Premier stated that the goal is to meet the rising demand for grain.
“We should keep all grain acreage at a stable level, as well as promoting the production of oilseed crops and creating new momentum to increase grain production. These measures cover the development of high-quality agricultural land, support the agricultural technology sector, and rely more on innovation in the seed industry,” said the Premier in a government framework report filed with the NPC.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) also submitted a report to the NPC stating that keeping grain output above 650 million tonnes is essential to ensuring sufficient grain supply and stabilizing prices. The report also outlined plans to build more grain storage and logistics facilities and to reassure the public that China has a good plan for grain sales in stock. Additionally, China will drive progress in building soybean centers across the country.
The Chinese government has been increasingly focusing on food security since the outbreak of COVID-19. Furthermore, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in measures to regulate the trade of fertilizers, which are essential to the agricultural sector.
China is the world’s most populous country, with a population of approximately 1.4 billion people. Ensuring food security has been a long-standing concern for the Chinese government, and this recent announcement reaffirms its commitment to addressing the issue. The plan to increase grain production will not only ensure sufficient food supply for the country’s population but also bolster the agricultural sector and support China’s economic growth.