Economy

China steps up measures to ensure grain security

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-27 13:41

BEIJING - China is enacting various measures, such as increasing its annual grain harvest and creating new grain security legislation, to ensure a food-secure society, according to an official of the country's top economic planning body.

Zhang said the country would further strengthen its grain production capacity, by means such as improving infrastructure construction, especially the farmland irrigation system, expanding the use of fine breed and high-productivity technology, improve farming methods and upgrading the farming industry's ability to resist disasters.

China's total grain demand is expected to reach 572.5 million tons by 2020, and to maintain a food self-sufficiency rate of 95 percent, at least 540 million tons of grain would be needed by then, Zhang said.

Zhang added that the NDRC and other food administrative agencies were working together in a draft law on food and grain.

According to Zhang, China has established a preliminary emergency response system for grain security, strengthening the production, storage, transportation and distribution of food and grain during emergency situations.