A five-year slide in grain output may end this year thanks
to new State incentives for farmers and helpful weather, which are
to continue.
Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin said yesterday this year's
harvest definitely surpasses its target of 455 billion kilograms
set in late 2003.
Still, Du said the country has been challenged to ensure grain
security for its residents.
"China's agriculture is still restricted by both near-future
uncertainties and long-term concerns," Du said during a two-day
national working conference on agriculture that ended
yesterday.
The harvest and challenges also top next year's agenda for the
country's highest leadership.
The leadership organized a three-day working meeting and
developed a draft plan to strengthen support and boost the
production capacity of the country's rural areas.
When summing up achievements made last year, Du said the annual
income of farmers is expected to see a 6 per cent year-on-year
increase this year.
"The increase range is the biggest one in recent years and this
is one of the biggest achievement we made in 2004," said Du, whose
ministry has listed increasing output, fattening farmers' wallets
and controlling and eradicating animal epidemics as the three top
priorities.
Thanks to the central government's favourable policies of
subsidizing farmers and cutting agricultural tax, China's total
grain output is expected to surpass this year's target of 455
billion kilograms. The output in 2003 was 430 billion
kilograms.
"But we have to keep a sober mind and cannot underestimate the
difficulties of maintaining a stable increase in grain output,"
said Du.
Policy researchers echoed Du's warning.
"The coming uncertainty is what kind of climate there will be in
2005," said Jiang Zhongyi, senior researcher with the Policy
Research Centre under Du's ministry.
He said the harvest and climate this year have been the best in
a decade.
But the China Meteorological Administration warned drought is
expected to threaten most parts of North China next spring as the
world is experiencing a "warm winter."
Another challenge is that prices of seeds, fertilizer and other
goods used by farmers are climbing, said Jiang.
Meanwhile, China's growing urban sprawl has taken up millions of
hectares of arable land.
Statistics indicate that less than one-10th of China's land is
arable but the country has to feed 22 per cent of world's
population.
"Despite the challenges, the demand is rigid and is sure to
expand as time goes on," said Jiang.
He said as people in China earn more, they eat more grain-fed
livestock products such as pork, poultry, eggs, and, to a lesser
degree, beef and milk.
"We are required to think of grain security as a top priority,"
said Jiang.
To achieve the goal, the ministry will build up technological
use among farmers. "We aim to make average households have good
command of technologies to improve output," said Du.
Du's ministry, which commended top grain-growing farmers
yesterday, plans to encourage farmers to sow 50 quality seeds of
rice, wheat, corn and other staples in major planting areas. And
100,000 households will benefit from the project of "Technologies
Entering Households," which will be launched soon.
(China Daily December 30, 2004)