The State Development Planning Commission and the State Grain
Reserve Bureau will launch a nationwide investigation into grain
prices from December to March in order to protect farmers'
legitimate rights and interests.
The checkup will focus on the implementation of grain price
policies at all State-owned grain purchasing and sales enterprises,
according to sources with the commission.
Some purchasing enterprises have found fault with the quality of
the grain and then forced a lower purchasing price, seriously
infringing on the farmers' interests, according to official
sources.
Others have gone as far as colluding with private grain producers
and cheated farmers who have little information about setting
prices conducive to higher profits.
To
solve these problems, the government has made efforts to stop these
unethical activities, including issuing requirements for quality
standards and setting protective and unconditional prices for
enterprises purchasing grain from farmers.
On
the other hand, a few enterprises sell grain for less than the
purchasing price in order to transfer losses to the government.
Some companies deliberately store up high quality grain for years
and then sell the "old grain," which is eligible for government
subsidies.
(China
Daily December 2, 2001)