 Letters and Blogs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-17 07:57 Pig farmers need better help The price of pork has been fluctuating for most of the year, causing farmers much concern. A farmer at a village in Hebei province said local wholesalers were now buying live pigs for only 5.7 yuan per jin (half a kg). Some farmers plan to reduce their livestock, while others are pondering whether to slaughter their sows. Economists have said the reason is simple - the price of feed is constantly increasing, therefore pig farming is no longer a profitable business. Ironically, it is the economists who have dissuaded farmers from raising pigs, which has resulted in a vicious cycle of depleted supplies and soaring prices. As pork is the principal meat of the Chinese people, any change in price is of great concern. To control prices, the government introduced a series of measures that included larger subsidies, and insurance for sows. Some of the incentives were too generous. As a result, it attracted many determined to take advantage of the benefits. The consequence - an imbalance between supply and demand. In fact, it should have been left to market forces to correct the problem. The government should help farmers respond to market changes in a better way by offering them more knowledge and information. Local governments, too, should establish sound market channels so that supply and demand are met on time. The key is to improve market channels, rather than simply subsidizing farmers. Hillside smile on blog.xinhuanet.com Heading in the right direction The recent Central Economic Work Conference set the tone for China's macro-economic policies next year - sustaining growth, boosting domestic demand and adjusting industrial structures. I believe the policies will steer economic development toward a healthier path: domestic driven and less dependent on exports. China's economic growth has long been propped up by the export sector. The boom in exports has contributed to the country's double-digit growth for years. But as the global credit crunch takes its toll, Chinese exporters are being hit hard by reduced demands from abroad, leading to factory closures and layoffs. GDP growth in the first three quarters witnessed its slowest pace in five years. With China's 1.3 billion population, the potential purchasing power, if fully tapped, could be immense. Strong domestic consumption will enable China to be less vulnerable to outside uncertainties and upheavals. The key to spur internal demand is to raise people's confidence and affordability. More infrastructure projects, closer scrutiny of product quality, tax reductions, and guaranteed financial security might be possible solutions. Wang Ting via e-mail Feeling effects of economic crisis Comment on "Hu calls for maintaining stable economic growth" (China Daily, Dec 15) It is difficult to say whether the financial crisis is at its beginning or end. Until recently, I considered it to be a problem of another continent, but now I am beginning to feel its effects. The crisis has impacted many sectors of China's economy despite the government's measures to reverse the downturn. It will be more difficult to find jobs next year and the chances of being laid-off greater. I hope this financial crisis will end soon. Oasis1980 on China Daily website Medicines require strict checks, too Comment on "China steps up efforts to rid food of illegal additives" (China Daily website, Dec 16) The manufacturing, distribution and sales of medicines should also be given more attention just like the food industry. We need to clean up this industry by severely punishing pharmaceutical companies engaged in illegal activities. A reader on China Daily website Readers' comments are welcome. Please send mail to Letters to the Editor, China Daily, 15 Huixin Dongjie, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029 China. Send faxes to (86-10) 6491-8377. Send e-mail to opinion@chinadaily.com.cn or letters@chinadaily.com.cn or to the individual columnists. China Daily reserves the right to edit all letters. Thank you. (China Daily 12/17/2008 page9) |
