No Food Crisis: Henan’s Summer Grain Output Hits Record High

No Food Crisis: Henan’s Summer Grain Output Hits Record High

河南夏粮产量再创历史新高 粮食危机并不存在

 

On August 12, a notice related to summer grain purchase in China’s major food-producing provinces was released by National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration raised a heated public discussion. According to the notice, by August 5, the amount of wheat purchased in the main food-producing provinces saw a year-on-year decrease of 9.383 million tons to 42.857 million. Among them, Henan contributed 9.124 million tons (a year-on-year decrease of 5.388 million tons).

8月12日，国家粮食和物资储备局发布的“主产区夏粮收购进度”公告引起热议。公告称，截至8月5日，主产区小麦累计收购4285.7万吨，同比减少938.3万吨，其中，小麦产量占全国四分之一的河南省，夏粮收购量为912.4万吨，同比减少538.8万吨。

Wheat harvest at Luoning County, Luoyang City. [Photo/Li Feng]

As China’s largest wheat production province, Henan’s wheat production accounts for one quarter of the national total, playing a significant role in safeguarding national food security. Thus, the notice immediately triggered a wide discussion on the Internet. “The food crisis may be coming.” Many netizens even thought that the phenomenon was caused by the declined grain production this year.

河南省是全国第一小麦生产大省，产量占全国的1/4强，对维护国家口粮安全至关重要。因而，此消息立刻引发网友的广泛讨论，甚至有不少网友认为这是粮食减产导致的，“粮食危机可能要来了”。

Has Henan’s grain production really decreased? Is a food crisis coming?

河南省粮食真的减产了吗？粮食危机真的要来了吗？

 

The fact is that Henan’s summer grain output has hit a record high this year. Henan reached a record high of 75.075 billion jin (1 jin [China] = half a kilogram) this year, an increase of 167 million jin over the past year, despite the complicated natural conditions for agricultural production and the disruption of farming caused by COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data released by the Survey Office of the National Bureau of Statistics in Henan on July 16.

事实是，今年河南夏粮产量再创历史新高。据国家统计局河南调查总队7月16日发布的数据，在夏粮生产条件复杂多变及新冠肺炎疫情影响下，今年河南省夏粮总产量仍然保持历史最高水平，达到了750.75亿斤，比去年多出1.67亿斤。

 

Fu Linghui, an NBS spokesman, said at a news conference on national economic performance in July that China’s summer grain output this year reached a historic high, up 0.9 percent from last year. So, there will be no food crisis.

国家统计局新闻发言人付凌晖在7月国民经济运行情况记者会上也披露，我国今年的夏粮实现了丰收，创历史新高，夏粮产量比上年增长0.9%。粮食危机并不存在。

Wheat harvest at Ningling County, Shangqiu City. [Photo/Yan Zhanting]

Why the purchase volume decreased year-on-year while the summer grain output hit a record high? Because, the volume purchased at rock-bottom prices declined. By August 10, only 0.23 billion kilograms of wheat has been purchased in this way, 6.54 billion kilograms lower over last year.

夏粮丰收小麦总产量提高，收购量却同比减少，原因在于托市收购量减少。截至8月10日，河南托市收购小麦2.3亿公斤，比上年同期减少65.4亿公斤。

 

Since 2017, Henan’s grain output has maintained above 65 billion kilograms for 3 consecutive years, showing a stable growth momentum. “At present, Henan’s grain inventory is at a high level. The government has ample grain reserves.” According to Henan Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, “Generally speaking, Henan’s grain supply is greater than the demand. Both grain storage by farmers and consumption by urban households need to be reasonable. There is no need to hoard food.”

河南省粮食产量一直保持稳定增产势头，2017年以来连续3年保持在650亿公斤以上。“目前，河南省粮食库存处于较高水平。政府储备粮已完成轮换，储备充足；托市收购粮库存还处于高位。”河南省粮食和物资储备局相关负责人说，“总体来看，河南粮食供大于需，无论是农民存粮还是城镇居民家庭消费，都需要理性对待，不必囤积过多粮食。”（中文来源/中国青年报 编译/赵汉青 审校/张玉红）