Home / Government / Central Government News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
China outlines first plan to ensure grain security
Adjust font size:

China's top economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), released the country's first mid- and long-term grain security plan in Beijing on Thursday.

The plan targets grain production of at least 500 billion kg in 2010 and more than 540 billion kg in 2020. Output was 501.6 billion kg last year.

Zhang Xiaoqiang, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, briefs the media on the medium and long-term plans for food safety in Beijing on November 13th, 2008. [Photo: china.com.cn]

The plan called for ensuring at least 105.3 million hectares of land under grain cultivation and a grain self-sufficiency rate above 95 percent over the next 12 years.

The cultivated area last year was 105.7 million ha, up 6.4 million ha from 2003, and the self-sufficiency rate was 98 percent.

The rise in grain area came after China scrapped agriculture taxes, raised subsidies and introduced minimum grain purchase prices to stimulate production.

China, with a population of 1.3 billion, faces severe challenges in safeguarding grain security due to rising living standards, decreasing arable land, water shortages and climate change, according to Zhang Xiaoqiang, deputy director of the NDRC.

The government will work to ensure that there is at least 120 million ha of arable land, compared with 121.7 million ha last year, according to the plan. However, there is limited room to increase arable land because of industrialization and urbanization, the plan said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
Most Viewed >>
- White paper: China's policies and actions on climate change
- China freezes minimum wages
- China to monitor possible mass layoffs
- China to pump 5.15 billion yuan into agriculture
- White paper published on China's rule of law
Questions and Answers More
Q: What kind of law is there in place to protect pandas?
A: In order to put the protection of giant pandas and other wildlife under the law, the Chinese government put the protection of rare animals and plants into the Constitution.
Useful Info
- Who's Who in China's Leadership
- State Structure
- China's Political System
- China's Legislative System
- China's Judicial System
- Mapping out 11th Five-Year Guidelines
Links
- Chinese Embassies
- International Department, Central Committee of CPC
- State Organs Work Committee of CPC
- United Front Work Department, Central Committee of CPC