China’s state-owned grain reserve enterprises are projected to purchase approximately 420 million tonnes of grain from farmers and producers in 2024. This marks the second consecutive year that the grain purchase volume exceeds 400 million tonnes, underscoring the nation’s commitment to bolstering food security.
At a national work conference on food and strategic reserves that concluded on Thursday, officials highlighted the strengthened organization and coordination of grain purchasing. Multiple measures have been implemented to streamline the channels for farmers to sell their grains, ensuring a smooth and efficient procurement process.
Grain purchasing, alongside the policy of setting a minimum grain purchase price, plays a crucial role in China’s macro-control measures. It is key to safeguarding national food security, maintaining the stability of food prices, protecting the interests of farmers, and ensuring adequate supplies during emergency situations.
Currently, the purchase of autumn grains is accelerating. Corn purchasing has entered its peak period in China’s northern and northeastern regions, according to Liu Huanxin, head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
With the growing volume of reserves, the scale of China’s grain storage facilities has increased annually, effectively meeting the nation’s grain storage needs. By the end of 2023, the capacity of standard warehouses in good condition exceeded 700 million tonnes, a significant increase of 36 percent compared to 2014, Liu noted.
China’s grain output reached a record high of 706.5 million tonnes in 2024, an increase of 1.6 percent from last year’s output. This milestone marks the first time the country has registered a grain harvest exceeding 700 million tonnes, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.
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China's grain purchase expected to reach 420 million tonnes in 2024
cgtn.com
