CHINA WILL NOT IMPORT LARGE QUANTITIES OF FOOD
(People's Daily Online, english.people.com.cn)
21 febbraio, 17:01
(People's Daily Online) China's grain output reached 602 million
tons last year, while according to the recently released China
Food and Nutrition Development Program (2014-2020), as of the
end 2020 China's grain output will stabilize at 550 million tons
or more. Why is the target far below the current output? Zhang
Hui, deputy director of the development planning department
under the Ministry of Agriculture, gave the following
explanation. 550 million is a bottom-line goal. The target of
550 million tons or more is mainly based on the following three
factors. First, the grain in the program refers mainly to
cereals. So the target means the output of cereals will reach at
least 550 million tons. Second, it is a bottom-line goal. In
2013, China's grain output reached 602 million tons. Within
these figures the total output of wheat, corn and rice amounted
to 543 million tons. So the goal is a lower limit target. No
upper limit was set in the program. Third, the goal represents
a continuation of China's planning targets released in 2008 and
2009, which set 540 million tons and 550 million tons
respectively as the goal in 2020. Self-sufficiency of grain to
secure China's basic demand China is a populous country and
solving the problem of feeding more than one billion people has
always been a top priority in ensuring national security. The
volume of cereals traded on the international market represents
only half of the volume consumed in China. There are therefore
limited food resources China can import. Therefore,
self-sufficiency of grain is the strategic base for ensuring
national food security. China will not import large quantities
of food in the future Imported grain in 2013 reached 15 million
tons while imported soybeans reached 60 million tons, Zhang
attributed this to the following two factors. First is domestic
demand. With the improvement in levels of consumption, people
have increasing demands for food diversity and food quality.
Second, prices of grain on the international market are
relatively lower.
