An “Action Plan for a New Round of Capacity Expansion of 50 million Tons of Grains (2024-2030)” was approved by the State Council on 12 March. This is in addition to China’s annual grain output redline of 650 million tons, raising China’s total target for 2024 to 700 million tons.
The plan focuses on increasing local grain storing capacity and improving storage technologies. To further increase production, the plan vows to optimize the regional layout of China’s designated grain-growing areas, promote the construction of high-standard farmland, and revitalize the seed industry. Importantly, the plan will prioritize increases in per-unit yield over an expansion of the farmland area. A “Five Excellence” framework encompassing good fields, good seeds, good practices, good machines, and good processing is key to achieving widespread increases in per-unit yields, as per Minister Tang. Increases in planting density as well as fertigation systems, integrating the management of water and fertilizer through precision technologies, are hoped to achieve the anticipated yield increases.
The full document is not publicly available, but a readout was published by China’s main media outlets.
Readout available at Farmers’ Daily: https://www.farmer.com.cn/2024/03/13/99949485.html
