Dealing with the four challenges of food security

First, grain prices at home and abroad are "upside down", and domestic grain prices are much higher than those in the international market, which is shown not only in important grains and beans such as rice, wheat and soybeans, but also in cotton and dairy products. The price is not competitive, which is a great threat to the security of agricultural industry and the growth of farmers' income.

The Fifth China Economic Security Forum, jointly sponsored by the Social Science Development Research Center of institutions of Education of the Ministry of Education and the School of Agriculture and Rural Development of Renmin University of China, was held in Beijing recently. At the meeting, Chen Xiwen, deputy head of the Central Rural work leading Group, made an in-depth exposition on the current situation, challenges and countermeasures of China's food security under the new situation. He believes that in recent years, China has had bumper grain harvests year after year, and food security as a whole is guaranteed. However, it should also be noted that many new situations and challenges are emerging. At present, there are still four challenges to be studied and addressed in ensuring food security.

First, grain prices at home and abroad are "upside down", and domestic grain prices are much higher than those in the international market, which is shown not only in important grains and beans such as rice, wheat and soybeans, but also in cotton and dairy products. The price is not competitive, which is a great threat to the security of agricultural industry and the growth of farmers' income. Second, in the context of rising wages, the cost of agricultural production is rising rapidly. Third, in order to pursue output for a long time, it has caused great damage to the agricultural production environment. China has made great achievements in agriculture and paid a lot of environmental costs. Fourth, with the increasing diversification of farmers' household income, the change in income structure attracts more farmers to turn their energy to wage income, and the attractiveness of agriculture is declining.

To this end, Chen Xiwen stressed that it is necessary to stimulate farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain. It is necessary to change the price formation mechanism through structural reform, so that the market can play a more important role in price formation. It is necessary to promote institutional innovation within agriculture, including the development of various forms of appropriate scale operation, and so on.