There is still potential for grain production to reach a new high in 2021

Reporter Lin Chunxia

The end of the year to pass on the good news! According to the national grain production data released by the National Bureau of Statistics a few days ago, the total grain output of the country in 2021 was 1,365.7 billion jin, an increase of 26.7 billion jin over the previous year, an increase of 2.0%, and the annual grain output reached a new high, maintaining more than 1.3 trillion jin for 7 consecutive years.

"This year's grain basic plate has lived up to expectations. On the basis of this year, if the various policies to benefit farmers can continue to exert efforts next year, the annual grain is expected to achieve the target of 1.4 trillion kilograms. Experts interviewed by the China Economic Times predicted.

Increasing grain production is conducive to stabilizing the overall situation of economic and social development

As the "ballast stone" of agriculture, grain has remained above 1.3 trillion kilograms for 7 consecutive years, which is of great significance. Li Guoxiang, a researcher at the Institute of Rural Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told this reporter that this can not only reduce our import pressure, but also prevent the transmission of a sharp rise in international grain prices to the country. In addition, it will also help stabilize the overall situation of China's economic and social development.

Jiang Wenlai, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, analyzed this reporter and said that this year's grain has reached a new high, indicating that China's food security is guaranteed, and the rice bowl of Chinese is firmly in his own hands. At the same time, it also shows that the long-term mechanism for stabilizing and increasing grain production in China has been initially completed and improved, which is in line with the reality of China's grain production. This also shows that China's agricultural normalization measures to respond to the new crown pneumonia epidemic are positive and effective, and the accumulated experience is of reference significance for us to deal with similar public events in the future.

The intensive policy of benefiting farmers has promoted stable grain production and increased income

Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic and climate change and other factors, global food prices are getting higher and higher, and hitting a new high in the past 10 years, China has maintained stable grain prices. The experts interviewed believe that this is mainly due to the attention paid by leaders at all levels to the work of "three rural areas" and the role played by the intensive introduction of a number of policies to benefit farmers.

"First of all, China's senior leaders are far-sighted and attach unprecedented importance to grain production." Li Guoxiang said that last year's Central Economic Work Conference and the National Rural Work Conference both emphasized the same responsibility of the party and the government and brought into play the role of agriculture as the "ballast stone." This is a major direction.

Secondly, the fiscal and financial support is particularly strong. In June this year, in the face of the increase in the price of agricultural materials such as fertilizers, the central government increased the subsidy of 20 billion yuan at a time to farmers who grow grain. At the same time, in view of the destruction of crops in extreme rainstorms in Henan and other places, the state has timely allocated relief funds to resume agricultural production.

In addition, through policies such as full cost insurance and income insurance, we will ensure the income of growers from growing grain, vigorously develop socialized services, and solve a series of problems in peasants' grain production through a number of policies and measures.

"The government attaches great importance to agriculture, and the timely implementation of a package of policies to benefit farmers, coupled with the good grain market, especially the high price of corn, has fully mobilized the enthusiasm of farmers to grow grain." Li Guoxiang said: This year, many places have abandoned wasteland for reclamation, which has also ensured the realization of the goal that the area under grain cultivation can only increase, not decrease.

"Judging from the actual effects of a number of policies and measures to stabilize grain prices and guarantee grain prices introduced in China, a series of support policies such as the demarcation of the two districts, adherence to the red line of 1.8 billion mu of arable land, one-time subsidies for the large increase in means of production, the minimum grain purchase price, and the acceleration of the construction of high-standard farmland have obvious effects, which have played a positive role in stabilizing production and ensuring national food security, and have also given farmers a 'reassurance pill' and guaranteed the basic income of farmers." Jiang Wenlai analyzed.

Next year's grain is expected to achieve the target of 1.4 trillion catties

The experts interviewed believe that as a large country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, China's food security problem cannot be relaxed at any time. On the basis of achieving stable production for seven consecutive years this year, if the various policies to benefit farmers can continue to exert efforts next year, the annual grain may be expected to exceed the target of 1.4 trillion kilograms without being affected by exceptionally serious natural disasters.

Li Guoxiang analyzed that first, from the perspective of national attention, in the face of the current international and domestic situation, we strive to be the first to keep the word straight, and the grain harvest is the "ballast stone" that is crucial to stability. Next year, the state will pay more attention to grain production, further strengthen the responsibility of the party and the government, consolidate responsibility, and strengthen assessment.

Second, from the policy level, it will continue to play the role of guaranteeing the policy of benefiting farmers. At the same time, all agricultural full-cost insurance and income insurance in the main grain-producing counties should be fully covered. Next year, farmers will only make money by growing grain, and in case of extreme disaster weather, the insurance company will have compensation.

Third, judging from the enthusiasm of the peasants in growing grain, the government attaches importance to agriculture, and the policy of benefiting the peasants in a package stimulates them, coupled with the good grain market, especially the high price of corn and the good price of wheat, which will further mobilize the enthusiasm of the peasants for growing grain.

Li Guoxiang estimates that the sown area may further increase next year. Based on existing resources and agricultural technology endowments, if there is no major natural disaster, there should be no problem in ensuring 1.3 trillion catties of grain next year, and it is expected to strive to increase to the target of 1.4 trillion catties.

From Jiang Wen's point of view, maintaining stable grain production is the long-term goal of the state. The role of grain "ballast stones" can only increase, not weaken. It is estimated that next year's grain production target will remain above 1.3 trillion kilograms. The State will continue to maintain this goal, but in practice will work towards a higher goal.