Three ministries warn grain speculators who disturb the market can be investigated for criminal responsibility

The reporter learned from the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Grain Administration that since the spring of this year, the extraordinary rise in the prices of some vegetables, grain and other agricultural and sideline products in China has been closely related to the speculation of speculators. In a number of investigations jointly conducted by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in April, in view of the malicious hype of Panax notoginseng and other problems, the production and sales enterprises were sternly warned that "price violations are found to seriously disrupt market price order." if a crime is constituted, criminal responsibility shall be investigated in accordance with the law. "

In addition, led by the National Development and Reform Commission, a number of state departments are actively coordinating to promote the establishment of a dynamic adjustment mechanism in line with the price level of minimum security, minimum wage and basic pension, so as to prevent the living standards of low-income groups from falling as a result of rising prices.

An official from the Agricultural economy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission told this newspaper that since March, the National Development and Reform Commission has found grain varieties such as japonica rice, corn, mung beans, garlic, potatoes and other vegetable agricultural and sideline products, as well as Panax notoginseng and other Chinese medicinal materials. In April, a number of investigation teams were sent to go deep into the main producing and selling areas of price-rising varieties to understand the production, supply, circulation and price changes of relevant commodities.

According to the comprehensive analysis of the situation grasped by various investigation teams, the above-mentioned agricultural products (000061) are not only affected by unfavorable weather such as drought in southwest China and persistent low temperature in the north, but also by a very small number of operators fabricating and spreading false information, malicious hoarding, colluding with each other and manipulating market prices. monopolizing the supply of goods, blocking circulation channels and other practices.

Specifically, with regard to garlic, which is generally reported to have risen the most, officials from the aforementioned Agricultural Economic Department analyzed that it was mainly due to the low price in previous years, which led to a sharp decline in acreage last year, and the tightening of supply after the Spring Festival. With the maturity and listing of garlic in the new season, the price of garlic will fall quickly; the price of traditional Chinese medicine such as mung beans, vegetables (000061) and Panax notoginseng will rise, mainly due to the influence of abnormal climate.

An analyst from Oriental Egg Agricultural Consulting Co., Ltd. said that Panax notoginseng and other Chinese herbal medicines are mainly produced in southwest China. Due to the severe drought in the early stage, which led to a decline in production, and the increase in mung bean prices is due to seasonal factors, the price of mung beans will rise every year in April and May, because many people will cook mung bean soup. Many sellers also regard this as a subject matter of hype.

In response to the illegal phenomena found in the investigation, such as malicious hype and hoarding, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, went to Guangdong, Yunnan and other provinces and cities to ask local price bureaus to cooperate in dealing with the price rise of Panax notoginseng. The main distributors and production enterprises of local Panax notoginseng were severely warned: "if it is found that the illegal behavior of price seriously disturbs the market price order and constitutes a crime, they shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law."

With regard to the recent rise in the price of japonica rice and corn, an official of the State Grain Administration said that there is evidence that the recent price rise of corn is related to the blind hoarding of grain by feed processing enterprises and the hype of futures dealers at home and abroad. The State Food Administration is closely monitoring the latest developments and will take measures to combat them if necessary.

The rising prices of agricultural and sideline products such as grain and vegetables, which have been going on for several months, have increased the pressure on low-income families. The official from the Agricultural and Economic Department of the National Development and Reform Commission said that the government is most concerned about those low-income people who are most affected by price fluctuations. "when the prices of grain and vegetables are rising, the living standards of those who receive the minimum security and the minimum wage will certainly be greatly affected, so the government should give them more subsidies at this time."

It is reported that in order to ensure the basic living needs of low-income people, led by the National Development and Reform Commission, a number of state departments are actively coordinating to promote the establishment of a dynamic adjustment mechanism in line with the price level of minimum security, minimum wage, and basic pension. It is hoped that all provinces and autonomous regions will establish and implement this system as soon as possible, so as to ensure that the living standards of low-income groups will not be reduced as a result of rising prices.

At present, seven provinces, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong, have established a dynamic adjustment mechanism in which price increases are linked to minimum security standards, minimum wages and retirement pension standards. Last year, Shandong Province also adjusted the minimum security standard according to price changes.