The slack on food security must not be let out, otherwise production can easily slide

Recently, the State Council issued the "Several Opinions on Establishing and Improving the Provincial Governor Responsibility System for Food Security" (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"), which further clarifies the authority and responsibilities of each provincial-level people's government in safeguarding national food security across all links including food production, circulation and consumption, and makes comprehensive arrangements for establishing and improving the provincial governor responsibility system for food security. Yan Bo, Director of the Policy and Regulation Department of the National Food Administration and spokesperson of the Administration, stressed in his interpretation of the Opinions that although grain output has achieved eleven consecutive increases, one must remain vigilant in times of peace and prepare for danger; difficulties in stabilizing and increasing grain output will be greater, and the slack on food security must not be let out, otherwise food production can easily slide.

Yan Bo said that eleven consecutive increases in grain output have laid a very solid foundation for the country's food security, and on the whole the current food security situation is good. But under such good circumstances one must remain vigilant in times of peace and prepare for danger, and at least several aspects must be taken into consideration.

First, China's agricultural resource endowment is inherently insufficient, with arable land and freshwater resources both relatively scarce; arable land per capita is only 1/3 of the world average, and freshwater resources per capita are only 1/4 of the world average. After achieving eleven consecutive increases in grain output, the difficulties and challenges in stabilizing and increasing output will be greater, so the slack on food security must not be let out at any time, otherwise food production can easily slide.

Second, China has a large population and the population is still growing, the consumption structure is upgrading, and, including the acceleration of our urbanization process, consumer demand is showing rigid growth, so a tight balance between supply and demand is a long-term trend in the country's grain supply and demand, and this must be clearly understood.

Third, after the “eleven consecutive increases”, especially since the supply and demand of some grain varieties are currently relatively loose, it is very easy under such circumstances to relax food production and neglect grain circulation, and in some places there is also an excessive reliance on the central government. Therefore, under such circumstances the State Council's issuance of the "Several Opinions on Establishing and Improving the Provincial Governor Responsibility System for Food Security" is of very great significance.