China's per capita grain possession approaches 900 jin, a record high
Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Xinrong said on the 6th at a press conference for the third session of the 12th National People's Congress that China's food security situation is steadily improving. Not only have total grain output and per-unit grain yield reached new highs, but per capita grain possession has also reached a historic high, approaching 900 jin.
China's per capita grain possession approaches 900 jin, a record high
Yu Xinrong said that in 2014, China overcame the impact of severe drought in some areas and various natural disasters, achieving an “eleventh consecutive increase” in total grain output. Three new highs were set: first, total grain output hit a new high, reaching 1,214.2 billion jin; second, grain yield per unit area hit a new high, reaching 359 kg per mu; third, per capita grain possession reached the highest level in history, approaching 900 jin.
He pointed out that China's total grain output has exceeded the 1,000 billion jin mark for 8 consecutive years, the 1,100 billion jin mark for 4 consecutive years, and the 1,200 billion jin mark for 2 consecutive years. This further shows that China's grain production capacity has steadily reached a relatively high level of development.
“The Chinese people's rice bowl must always be held firmly in our own hands, and the bowl should mainly contain Chinese grain.” Yu Xinrong said that in order to ensure “basic self-sufficiency in grains and absolute security of staple foods,” it is necessary to protect and mobilize the enthusiasm of the broad masses of farmers for farming and growing grain, so that engaging in grain production becomes a respected profession and one that can lead to prosperity; it is necessary to protect and mobilize the enthusiasm of local governments in major grain-producing areas for valuing agriculture and promoting grain production, so that major grain-producing areas have political honor, economic benefits and motivation in their work; it is necessary to enhance the basic support capacity for grain, implement the planning of permanent basic farmland well, build a batch of high-standard farmland that ensures stable yields despite drought or excessive rain, and achieve grain storage in the land; it is necessary to enhance the supporting capacity of science and technology, accelerate the development of the modern seed industry, further promote the extension and application of agricultural science and technology, and achieve grain storage in technology.