Although grain production has grown for the past three years in China, the government still has much to do to ensure a stable food supply and sound development of agriculture, the People's Daily reported Wednesday, citing Sun Zhengcai, minister of agriculture.
Sun said the summer grain harvest has been solid so far. But the yield of summer grains only accounts for a quarter of the year's harvest. Furthermore, although autumn grains like rice grow reliably, a whole-year harvest may be challenged by poor weather, diseases, pests, as well as the rising cost of fertilizer and diesel oil.
According to the nation's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), the country's total grain yield is to reach 500 billion kilograms a year. This goal could possibly be realized with this year's harvest. However, Sun said that doesn't mean the country will produce 500 billion kilograms of grain every year in the future, or that it can overcome all the problems facing China's agricultural industry.
One of the most serious problems ahead is the trend of reductions in farmland acreage. By the end of 2006, the total area of farmland had been reduced to 1.827 billion mu (121.8 million hectares), 124 million mu less than was ten years ago.
Sun said the government will do what it can to keep the country's farmland above the warning line of 1.8 billion mu and implement policies encouraging farmers to grow more grains. It will also help farmers reduce damages from natural disasters.
Meanwhile, cultivation of soybeans, vegetables and oil crops should also be encouraged due to the rising demand of the society, said Sun. As an important industrial policy, the government plans to support cotton planting and set up a subsidy system to help farmers, in order to maintain the cotton-growing area over 80 million mu and lift the yield in advantageous areas.
On the topic of bio-energy development, Sun said that currently the country cannot produce bio-energy from grain in large amounts because it would endanger the food supply. Meanwhile, waste like straw or manure can be used without consuming food resources, which could possibly be the future of China's bio-energy development.
Sun is also concerned about the recent hikes in food prices. He said that a moderate rise of food prices is beneficial to farmers, but if the prices surge too fast and too high, life of residents with lower income will be greatly affected, as will the steady development of agricultural production.