SCIO briefing on food security in China
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 16, 2019
CRI:
Over the past few years, many people have been reluctant to stockpile food. If we have a shortage of food, it will pose huge pressures on the government's ability to deal with an emergency. How can we ensure a steady supply of food if there is an emergency? Thank you.
Zhang Wufeng:
Thank you for your question. We'd like to invite Mr. Huang to answer this question.
Huang Wei:
The question raised by this reporter friend can easily be overlooked when we have sufficient food reserves. According to our work experience, we should not only ensure food security when times are good. More importantly, we should save for a rainy day, otherwise things can be catastrophic when there is an emergency. As such, the Chinese government attaches great importance to food emergency management. After years of hard work, our grain reserves and emergency response systems which are in line with China's national conditions have been established. They can be summarized in the following aspects:
First, we have food in hand. The key to handle an emergency is to have food reserves in hand. When there is an emergency, we can extract the necessary food supplies immediately. As I have mentioned before, sufficient grain reserves are the foundation, the "ballast stone", of our food emergency system. In addition, emergency food reserves for 10-15 days are available in large and medium-sized cities and areas that are prone to price fluctuations. Once there is an emergency, these food reserves can be put into the market and satisfy demand for 10-15 days. Moreover, we also have emergency processing enterprises, emergency supply outlets, emergency distribution centers, emergency storage and transportation enterprises, forming a food emergency supply network. These play an important role in responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes, sleet, snowstorms, and typhoons, as well as public emergencies.
I have some data here to share with the public. At present, there are 5,704 emergency processing enterprises in the country, with a daily processing capacity of 1.38 million tons. We have 48,831 emergency supply outlets with a daily supply capacity of 1.82 million tons, 3,081 emergency distribution centers with a storage capacity of 53.87 million tons and 3,492 storage and transportation enterprises with a daily transportation capacity of up to 1.13 million tons. This set of data will give you a better understanding of what we truly mean by "food in hand" and what can be provided in the event of an emergency.
Second, we can monitor the market in the event of an emergency. By strengthening our food monitoring and early warning systems, we will keep abreast of the dynamic changes in the food market and when an emergency occurs we can coped with in a timely manner. I'd like to show you two numbers. There are 1,817 national food market information reporting centers and 9,523 local food market information monitoring centers, which basically cover key areas and key varieties of food. They can also closely track changes in the food supply, as well as its demand and prices. In this way, we can respond in advance to any shortages or price increases.
Third, we can deal with any potential emergencies in an orderly way. Once supply is starting to tighten up, we can execute on certain plans and deploy certain methods. We have special food emergency plans at the national level with detailed regulations from monitoring and early warning to emergency response. 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, have formulated provincial-level emergency plans, and 587 cities at the prefectural level or above and 2,440 counties have formulated regional emergency plans. In addition to the emergency plans, emergency drills and training are being carried out throughout the country to ensure that emergency teams and facilities can play an important role during critical times.
Fourth, we have the confidence to shoulder these responsibilities. Government departments must assume their roles. We have implemented the responsibility system of provincial governors for food security and have carried out the assessment of the governors' work. As such, we will ensure that government officials at every level earnestly and diligently assume their duties.
To sum up, our country's grain harvest has seen consecutive bumper years. Our reserves are sufficient and the efficiency of our logistics has also improved significantly. Our monitoring and control system has become more mature and is being perfected. Therefore, we are fully capable and confident of doing a good job in dealing with any potential food emergency. Please rest assured.
Zhang Wufeng:
Today, with Mr. Hu presiding over the conference, Mr. Su and Mr. Huang and I answered questions raised by domestic and foreign journalists on China's food security. I'm glad that you raised many good questions. If there are any more questions, you may find another time to speak with us again. Please pay more attention to China's food issues.
To conclude, on behalf of the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Hu and other SCIO officials and media friends at home and abroad present here today. As you can see, the first sentence of the white paper is "the people are the foundation of a country; food is the primary need of the people". Food security is a critical issue concerning 1.4 billion Chinese people. Please rest assured that we will implement the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and take on the responsibility to ensure food security in accordance with the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping. We will firmly hold the Chinese people's rice bowls in our own hands. Thank you!
Hu Kaihong:
Today's briefing is hereby concluded.
Translated and edited by Chen Xia, Zhu Bochen, Guo Yiming, Wang Yanfang, Cui Can, Zhang Rui, Wang Yiming, Wu Jin, Li Jingrong, Wang Zhiyong, Fan Junmei, Wang Wei, Li Huiru, Yang Xi, Jay Birbeck, Kenneth Teh Chiu Soong, Geoffrey Murray. In case of any dispute over a discrepancy, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
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