September 5, 2011

 

 

China aims to raise its grain production capacity by 8% in 2015 from 2010 levels and has maintained its 95% grain self-sufficiency rate target, the Ministry of Agriculture said Friday (Sep 2).

 

The world's largest grain consumer is facing challenges in stabilising grain production amid rising demand and declining arable area due to rapid urbanisation.

 

Grain output reached 546.4 million tonnes in 2010, rising for the seventh year in a row, and China is now aiming at an annual capacity of more than 540 million tonnes in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015), from around 500 million tonnes in 2010, the ministry said in a statement.

 

"Guaranteeing supply of grain and other major agricultural products will remain top priority (between 2011 and 2015)," it said.

 

The government also aims to maintain grain acreage above 1.07 billion hectares by 2015, compared with actual acreage of 1.1 billion hectares last year.

 

Demand for corn is growing faster than domestic supply of the most popular animal feed, amid a rise in meat consumption.

 

China has reportedly bought more than three million tonnes of corn from the US so far this year to replenish reserves, more than twice the total imports in 2010. Its annual corn output is around 180 million tonnes.

 

It is also aiming to boost cotton output to more than seven million tonnes in 2015 compared with actual output of 5.96 million tonnes in 2010, the ministry said. China is the world's largest cotton importer.

 

The ministry said the country's 2015 oilseed output target would be 35 million tonnes compared with 32.3 million tonnes in 2010, in its attempt to stabilise edible oil self-sufficiency rate at about 40%.

 

China's edible oil self-sufficiency is only 37%, industry data showed.

 

Output of sugar crops, which include sugar cane and sugar beets, is expected to reach 140 million tonnes compared with actual output of 120 million tonnes in 2010.

 

The ministry said it aims to raise meat output - including pork, beef and poultry - to 85 million tonnes in 2015 from 79.3 million tonnes in 2010.