How Can the Corn Structure Be Optimized? Yu Xinrong: Pragmatically Advance the Transformation of Agricultural Development Mode

Vice Minister Yu Xinrong emphasized at the meeting on corn structure adjustment and the promotion and implementation of “grain-to-feed” in selected provinces:
Pragmatically advance the transformation of agricultural development mode, focus on optimizing the corn structure to achieve agricultural quality improvement and efficiency enhancement
 

According to this website  on August 28, the Ministry of Agriculture held a meeting in Inner Mongolia on corn structure adjustment and the promotion and implementation of “grain-to-feed” in selected provinces, to exchange practices and experience from various localities in corn structure adjustment and “grain-to-feed” pilot programs, and to deploy and arrange corn structure adjustment work. Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Xinrong emphasized that, to adapt to the new changes in the grain supply and demand situation and the new requirements of sustainable development, it is necessary to plan comprehensively, lay out scientifically, take the initiative to step into position, and act in line with the trend, promote the optimization of the corn structure and the transformation and upgrading of the industry, and strive to achieve the goals of stabilizing grain production, increasing income, improving quality, and enhancing efficiency.

Yu Xinrong pointed out that, in implementing the central government's decisions and arrangements on transforming the agricultural development mode, under the new normal, to enhance agriculture's capacity for sustainable development, improve the comprehensive benefits of agricultural production, and strengthen China's agricultural international competitiveness, there is an urgent need to accelerate the advancement of corn structure adjustment. It is necessary to follow the overall requirements of the national food security strategy under the new situation, adhere to market demand as the guide, ecological restoration as the vision, quality improvement and efficiency enhancement as the goal, and respect for farmers' wishes as the premise, optimize, specialize, elevate, and deepen the corn industry structure, and accelerate the construction of a modern agricultural industrial system with coordinated grain, economic crops, and feed, combined agriculture and animal husbandry, integrated planting, breeding, and processing, and industrial integration.

Yu Xinrong emphasized that advancing corn structure adjustment is a systematic project that requires scientific planning, clear goals, proactive action, and orderly advancement.

First, highlight “comparative advantages” and build a new industrial system. Achieve the combination of land use and land nurturing, the combination of agriculture and animal husbandry, and the combination of production, processing, and sales, to create a full industry chain.

Second, achieve the “four improvements” to promote agricultural quality improvement, efficiency enhancement, and sustainable development. Focus on improving corn production capacity, improving the quality and efficiency of corn production, improving the market competitiveness of agricultural products, and improving the capacity for sustainable development.

Third, grasp the “five principles” to ensure the orderly advancement of corn structure adjustment. Adhere to adapting measures to local conditions, ensuring both reduction and protection, adhere to market orientation, respect farmers' wishes, adhere to innovation-driven development, promote quality improvement and efficiency enhancement, adhere to the simultaneous development of multiple industries, advance industrial integration, adhere to a global perspective, and ensure industrial security.

Fourth, highlight the “six key points” to ensure that corn structure adjustment achieves practical results. The key points are ecological suitability adjustment, planting-livestock integration adjustment, ecological protection adjustment, land cultivation and nurturing integration adjustment, adjustment with both protection and reduction, and market-oriented adjustment.

Yu Xinrong required that corn structure adjustment should highlight key points, strengthen measures, continue to intensify efforts, and work persistently over time, and effectively implement all measures.

First, effectively strengthen planning guidance. Earnestly implement the corn structure adjustment plan for the “sickle bend” region, and in light of local conditions, determine the areas to be reduced, substitute crops, and industrial linkages, with overall layout and simultaneous advancement. Next year, the four northeastern provinces and regions should strive to achieve the goal of reducing corn area by more than 10 million mu.

Second, effectively implement policies. Adjust, improve, and implement the temporary corn purchase and storage policy to protect farmers' enthusiasm for production; do a good job in the “grain-to-feed” pilot in the northern farming-pastoral ecotone and the grain-soybean rotation pilot in the fourth and fifth accumulated temperature zones of Heilongjiang, summarize well, and accumulate experience; also explore the establishment of support policies for finance, credit, and insurance.

Third, effectively advance scientific and technological innovation Accelerate the breeding of specialized silage varieties, as well as high-yield, high-quality miscellaneous grains, forage grass, and other varieties for alternative planting; integrate and promote different planting models such as converting grain corn to silage, corn to forage grass, corn to miscellaneous grains, and corn to soybeans, and accelerate demonstration and promotion.

Fourth, effectively advance industrial operations. Cultivate large planting and breeding households, family farms, farmers' cooperatives, and other new types of business entities, cultivate a group of leading agricultural industrialization enterprises with strong strength, good reputation, and close connections, and assist structural adjustment and industrial transformation and upgrading.

Fifth, effectively advance publicity and guidance. Timely summarize and publicize the good practices, good experience, and good models emerging in various localities, and create a favorable public opinion atmosphere.

  The picture shows the Nashitu corn silage planting base in Tumd Left Banner, Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia, and the Shuanghao pasture of Benteng Animal Husbandry Company carrying out fully mechanized operations for corn silage feed, including harvesting, crushing, pipeline loading, transportation, pasture unloading, spreading, spraying additives, compacting, sealing, and entering the silo, which will be completed in the shortest possible time. (Photos on this page by Li Weidong, reporter for the Ministry of Agriculture website)