Strive to Harvest Good Autumn Grain | Production | Autumn Grain
This year, the national early rice production increased by 215000 tons or 0.8% compared to the previous year. At present, both summer grain and early rice have been harvested abundantly, and autumn grain accounts for more than 70% of the annual grain production, making its ability to harvest abundantly crucial. We must work with a sense of responsibility to ensure that autumn grain production is maintained at over 1.3 trillion catties throughout the year.
The first two seasons of abundant grain harvest were not easy. Since the beginning of this year, the Huang Huai Hai region has experienced an unprecedented "bad rain" in many years. After the onset of summer in the north, many areas have experienced record breaking high temperatures, and disasters such as floods and hail are widespread. Agricultural and meteorological disasters have shown characteristics of multiple scattered points and multiple concurrent disasters. Faced with numerous difficulties and with the efforts of all parties, this year's summer grain production has reached the second highest level in history, with a slight increase in early rice production.
Capturing a bountiful autumn harvest is of great significance. At the end of September, autumn grain will be harvested on a large scale nationwide. From a domestic perspective, if there is a bountiful autumn harvest, it will establish a foundation for stabilizing prices, expectations, and boosting confidence. From an international perspective, in the face of sustained high international food prices and restrictions on rice exports from some countries, if there is a bountiful autumn harvest, responding to various external risks and challenges will be more proactive. Despite the overall smooth grain production in the first two seasons, there is still a tough battle to be fought to ensure good autumn grain production. Currently, there are many favorable conditions and difficulties to overcome in order to achieve a bountiful autumn harvest.
A bountiful autumn harvest requires a solid foundation and conditions. According to agricultural scheduling, the autumn grain area has steadily increased this year, especially the high-yield crop corn. At present, except for some flood stricken areas in North China and Northeast China, the growth of autumn crops in most parts of the country is generally normal.
The task of achieving a bountiful harvest in autumn remains arduous. Affected by recent heavy rainfall, severe floods have occurred in some areas of North China and Northeast China, causing damage to agricultural production. Various regions have been tightening their efforts in post disaster field management and replanting, repairing water damaged farmland facilities, and restoring agricultural production conditions. At present, there is still over a month left until the large-scale harvest of autumn crops. According to previous assessments by relevant departments, agricultural disasters in the second half of the year are characterized by extreme weather, severe drought and flood, and complex severity. It should be noted that China is still in the main flood season, and autumn grain is in a critical period of yield formation, as well as a crucial period for disease and pest control. It is necessary to draw experience from the difficult summer and early rice harvests, especially to do the following two tasks well.
Firstly, we must implement the requirement of shared responsibility between the Party and government for food security, and not slack off in disaster prevention and reduction efforts, as well as post disaster production recovery work, in order to enhance the risk resistance ability of food production. As of now, the central government has allocated a total of 6.184 billion yuan in 8 batches, including 2.991 billion yuan for disaster prevention and relief in agricultural production, 3.193 billion yuan for water conservancy and disaster relief, to support agricultural production and other work in disaster stricken areas. All regions should make full use of these funds. This year, the Ministry of Finance has expanded the coverage of full cost insurance and planting income insurance for the three major grain crops, achieving full coverage in 1105 major grain producing counties. Insurance companies need to improve claims efficiency, open up green channels, and minimize losses for farmers.
Secondly, we must focus on field management in the middle and later stages of autumn grain production, do a good job in disaster prevention and pest control, reduce the impact of extreme weather, and curb the outbreak and spread of diseases and pests. The main production areas should carry out various forms of technical guidance, promote agricultural socialized services, implement field management measures such as fertilizer and water regulation, and "one spray multiple promotions" to make grain cultivation more convenient and cost controllable. We should focus on increasing the yield of major grain and oil crops on a large scale, accelerate the construction of good farmland, improve water conservancy facilities, promote the development of modern seed industry and agricultural machinery, and achieve the upgrading of agricultural technology and equipment quality.