context: Unpacking the 2024 No.1 Document, this op-ed emphasises both maintaining sown area and improving yield to ensure food security. Farmer incentives, local government support and technological advancements are key strategies. Diversifying food sources beyond traditional grains is also highlighted.
Food security measures from the No.1 Central Document include
- challenges and goals
- tight balance between grain supply and demand in the PRC
- ensure grain output remains above 650 million tonnes in 2024
- strategies
- stabilise area sown to grain
- mobilise farmers
- improve grain pricing, subsidies and insurance (full-cost and income)
- support local governments
- increase aid for large grain producers, explore inter-provincial benefit sharing
- boost yields
- 50 million tonnes production capacity improvement action
- grain yield improvement project
- integrate 'good land, seeds, opportunities and methods'
- revitalise seed industry, research and selection
- strengthen agricultural infrastructure
- 50 million tonnes production capacity improvement action
- expand beyond grain
- develop the 'big agriculture, big food' concept
- utilise diverse resources (forests, grasslands, etc.)
- develop multiple food sources (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.)
- build a diversified food supply system
- develop the 'big agriculture, big food' concept