Food security has always been an important issue in our country, and the 2023 agricultural harvest can be described as fruitful, successfully overcoming the test of many natural disasters. From grain to meat, eggs and milk, from cotton, oil, sugar to fruits, vegetables and fish, the output of various agricultural products has reached a new high, providing more than 1.4 billion people with abundant "rice bags" and "vegetable baskets".
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the total grain output of the mainland in 2023 will reach 1,390.8 billion catties, an increase of 17.76 billion catties or 1.3% over the previous year. The achievement of this bumper harvest has added luster to the mainland's agricultural development.
However, the question then arises as to how to continue to ensure an adequate supply of "rice bags" and "vegetable baskets" in 2024. The convening of the Central Rural Work Conference clearly set the goal of doing a good job in the production of grain and agricultural products, stabilizing the sown area of grain, and promoting the increase of grain yields.
In order to ensure that the grain output in 2024 will remain above 1.3 trillion catties, all localities have strengthened the protection and construction of cultivated land. In Guiping City, Guangxi, the construction of high-standard farmland and the implementation of a number of high-yield actions have made the autumn grain output situation good. At the same time, a total of 1 billion mu of high-standard farmland has been built across the country, and the plan for 2025 is even more ambitious, reaching 1.075 billion mu, providing strong support for food security.
As the "ballast stone" for the mainland's stable grain production and supply, the northeast region has thoroughly implemented the strategy of "storing grain on the ground and storing grain in technology", comprehensively implemented the plan to increase grain production by 10 million tons, continuously improved the comprehensive grain production capacity, and worked hard to build a more stable, reliable, solid and safe "big granary".
While achieving food security, the Central Rural Work Conference also proposed to establish a big agriculture and big food concept, and build a diversified food supply system. From woody grains and oils in forests to fruits and vegetables in greenhouses, to the application of biotechnology, all of them have provided a broader space for the development of grain production on the mainland.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the next step will be to stabilize rations, corn and soybeans, continue to expand the rapeseed area, and strive to increase yields. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will promote the balance between production and demand in the dairy industry, promote the balanced supply of vegetables and fruits, strengthen the supervision of the quality and safety of agricultural products, and provide people with richer and healthier food choices.