The "first mile" of agricultural product cold chain logistics must be handled well
"Accelerating the development of the 'first mile' of full-process cold chain logistics for agricultural products and effectively solving the problems of reducing losses and preserving quality in the circulation of agricultural products is of great significance for targeted poverty alleviation in the Wuling Mountain area." On the morning of March 6, during the Hunan delegation's group deliberation of the government work report, the remarks by Li Xiaohong and other deputies on strengthening policy support and handling well the "first mile" of agricultural product cold chain logistics attracted everyone's attention.
The stages of pre-cooling, grading, processing, packaging and warehousing of agricultural products after harvesting at the place of origin, up until handover for logistics transportation, constitute the "first mile" of cold chain logistics. The Wuling Mountain area is very rich in agricultural products, with 10 major categories and 349 bases including high-mountain off-season vegetables, meat and dried fruits, as well as 4 major citrus industry belts. Income from primary agricultural products is the main source of income for farmers. However, because the problem of building the "first mile" of cold chain logistics for such products has not yet been solved, the spoilage rate in this stage is as high as more than 20%, making it difficult for high-efficiency agriculture brands such as high-mountain off-season specialty vegetables and fruits and organic vegetables to obtain brand value and benefit value, and making it difficult for the effects of poverty alleviation and demonstration-driven development to emerge. The main reasons include: insufficient understanding of the source-stage position, weak support from basic investment, lack of guidance from standards and regulations, and reduced comprehensive value of specialty products.
Based on the investigation, Li Xiaohong suggested that when the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance formulate the "Three-Year Action Plan for the Construction of Agricultural Product Cold Chain Logistics Facilities," they should make the construction of the "first mile" of cold chain logistics for regional specialty agricultural products in the Wuling Mountain area a key project of the plan, and select large-scale specialty bases and leading enterprises in agricultural industrialization to carry out pilot work. At the same time, in areas such as pre-cooling, packaging, and sorting and grading of specialty high-efficiency agricultural products, they should formulate and issue cold chain logistics operating specifications and technical standards in line with international standards, and establish quality inspection and supervision mechanisms. Special support policies should be issued, with fiscal investment or special funds used as equity participation to build base cold storage, warehousing and grading and sorting facilities, granting subsidies of more than 50% of the packaging costs of specialty products and 100% subsidies for specialty brand promotion expenses such as participation in exhibitions.
The remarks of deputy Li Xiaohong struck a chord with other deputies. Deputies Peng Guofu, Hu Zijing and others also spoke successively, suggesting that a plan for developing cold chain logistics for agricultural products be formulated as soon as possible, that industrial goals for enriching the people be determined, and that implementation be ensured in place.