context: It is no easy feat balancing the state's strategic target of guaranteeing sufficient land for growing staple grains with farmers' pursuit of good returns by planting more profitable crops (like flowers). As part of efforts to protect staples' security amid farming diversification, the state has designated permanent farmland to be mainly dedicated to staple grains. Subsidies will continue to be in place to maintain farmers' confidence in planting staple grains.
State Council stressed the top priority of ensuring national food security amid uncertainties in the global grain market. Local governments must curb the trend of 'non-grain' use of farmland, meaning using land for purposes other than growing grains, not least the three staples. It requires
- clarifying priorities of farmland usage
- strictly controlling non-ag use of farmland
- permanent farmland for rice, wheat and corn production
- ordinary farmland for grain, cotton, oil, sugar, vegetable and feed crops production
- non-edible crops ranking behind staples and other edible products
- strengthening supervision of grain production functional areas
- taking another look (huitoukan 回头看) and adjusting the use of areas in time
- stabilising grain acreage outside the main grain-producing areas
- attracting private investment to grain breeding, production, processing and distribution
- curbing the trend of leasing farmland for non-staple uses
- preventing illegal occupation of permanent farmland to develop aquaculture, forestry and orchards
Supportive measures include
- giving greater weight to preventing 'non-staple use' of farmland in the provincial governor accountability system for food security
- financially supporting major grain-producing counties and areas
- promoting grain cultivation monitoring
The policy targets two factors that exacerbate the 'non-grain' trend, notes Gui Hua 桂华 Wuhan University Centre for China Rural Governance research fellow
- farmers abandoning farmland or turning to economic crops due to low profits in grain production
- private capital (like real estate developers) leasing farmland for other purposes