February 16, 2012

China aims to be 100% grain self-sufficient

China is planning to be almost 100% self-sufficient in its grain production to meet the local demand, a Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said Tuesday (Feb 14).

The statement is a reiteration of the ministry's position for a domestic audience after Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu earlier this week signalled openness to more agricultural imports from the US while accompanying Vice President Xi Jinping on an official visit.

"We're population-heavy and land-scarce, necessitating the use of our limited resources as a basis to guarantee self-sufficiency in grain and other major food supplies," spokesman Chen Mengshan said.

China maintains a self-sufficiency rate in grain supply of almost 100%, he said, adding that maintaining this rate is a policy goal in the central government's 2011-2015 five-year plan.

China has been able to produce more than 540 million tonnes of grains a year because "we steadfastly retain the security of our rice bowl in our own hands, so we can protect and provide our own grain supply regardless of how global grain markets change."