The weight of the responsibility system of provincial governors for food security

To improve the enthusiasm of local governments in grain production and fully implement the provincial governor responsibility system for food security is an important embodiment of the new thinking to further enhance the ability of food security in the new era. Arousing the enthusiasm of local grain production and strengthening the territorial responsibility of food security are important mechanisms and means to improve the ability of food security at present and in the future.

Where is the grip of food security? The "opinions of the State Council on establishing and improving the responsibility system of provincial governors for food security" recently made it clear that provincial governors must assume the main responsibility for ensuring food security in the region. Compared with the well-known "rice bag" provincial governor responsibility system, the provincial governor responsibility system has formed a more complete food security system from the source of grain production, the process of grain circulation to supervision and assessment, and also highlights the territorial responsibility of food security.

Why should we put more emphasis on food security and require more comprehensive and specific responsibilities than in the past on the premise of a sustained increase in grain production and adequate food and clothing in the domestic market? This is determined by the new characteristics, new changes and new requirements of the food security situation under the new normal background.

This newness is reflected in the supply. On the one hand, China's grain production capacity has reached a new level, and grain output has exceeded 1.2 trillion jin for two consecutive years. On the other hand, the situation of relying on heaven for food has not fundamentally changed. Reflected in the demand, on the one hand, due to factors such as the increase of population, the improvement of living standards and the development of urbanization, the total grain consumption will increase rigidly, on the other hand, the structural imbalance of grain varieties, some supply exceeds demand, and some production is insufficient. Reflected in the market, on the one hand, domestic production costs and prices are increasing year by year, and on the other hand, the prices of international agricultural products are declining, squeezing at both ends, making it more difficult to increase the income of grain farmers in the policy-oriented market; in addition, in terms of regulation and control, the space to stimulate grain production simply by increasing subsidies is becoming more and more limited.

In the face of this situation, it is necessary to reform and adjust the habits and practices that are incompatible with ensuring food security in the new period on the basis of consolidating and perfecting the grain paths and methods that are effective in practice and in line with the law of economic and social development. To improve the enthusiasm of local governments in grain production and fully implement the provincial governor responsibility system for food security is an important embodiment of the new thinking to further enhance the ability of food security in the new era. The key point of this requirement is that the people's governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities must assume the main responsibility for ensuring food security in their own regions, and should not rely excessively on the central government or others for food security.

As early as 2001, in order to adapt to the changes of the new grain production and circulation pattern, China was divided into 13 major grain producing areas, 7 main marketing areas and 11 basic balance areas, so that the superior grain producing areas could steadily give full play to the advantages of geographical resources. to ensure that grain production capacity is gradually increased. However, as the main selling area, due to the lack of rigid tasks and rigid requirements of grain production, and the subjective lack of enthusiasm for grain production, grain production is in a gradual decline and the area of cultivated land is gradually or even greatly reduced. The data show that most of the people who occupy a large area of cultivated land in recent years belong to the main selling areas.

On the other hand, as the main selling areas, they are often economically affluent areas, from establishing high-standard basic farmland, enhancing the support capacity of grain science and technology, to supporting and supporting farmers to grow grain and establishing a new agricultural management system. Even to build a modern grain circulation market, improve grain reserve capacity and other aspects have a good foundation of financial resources, manpower and material resources, but now this ability has not been brought into full play. What could have been done in some places may not have been done well, and what could have been done better may not be done well, and what could have been solved through efforts may be difficult to solve, while in some major grain producing areas, due to financial constraints, the construction of irrigation and water conservancy infrastructure is still very weak, and grain production capacity is close to the limit.

Therefore, to mobilize the enthusiasm of local grain production and strengthen the territorial responsibility of food security is an important mechanism and means to improve the ability of food security at present and in the future. For the whole country, food security is the top priority of the whole party and the whole society, and for every region, food security is the top priority of the region, but whether it is the whole country or the region, this top priority needs to be implemented on a specific carrier, not just on words. This kind of carrier is every province, autonomous region and city, and every field.

For a populous country like ours, food security can never be careless at any time. The more we have grain in hand, the more we should step up efforts to consolidate the grain foundation. The provincial governor's responsibility system for food security has not only caught this pulse, but also showed the weight under the new normal.