Chinese farmers need to grow more grain

Sun said the summer grain harvest has been solid so far. But the yield of
summer grains only accounts for a quarter of the year’s harvest. Furthermore,
although autumn grains like rice grow reliably, a whole-year harvest may be
challenged by poor weather, diseases, pests, as well as the rising cost of
fertilizer and diesel oil.

Reduction of farm land
One
of the most serious problems ahead is the trend of reductions in farmland
acreage. By the end of 2006, the total area of farmland had been reduced to
1.827 billion mu (121.8 million hectares), 124 million mu less than was ten
years ago.

More grain plantings
Sun said the
government will do what it can to keep the country’s farmland above the warning
line of 1.8 billion mu and implement policies encouraging farmers to grow more
grains. It will also help farmers reduce damages from natural disasters.
Meanwhile, cultivation of soybeans, vegetables and oil crops should also be
encouraged due to the rising demand of the society, said Sun. As an important
industrial policy, the government plans to support cotton planting and set up a
subsidy system to help farmers, in order to maintain the cotton-growing area
over 80 million mu and lift the yield in advantageous
areas.