China expected to play big role in global food security, says UN

New York: Stable food production and prices in China will contribute greatly to global food security, which has been challenged by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a major body of the United Nations said.

“With the novel coronavirus spreading rapidly, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global agricultural and food markets are becoming increasingly apparent,” said the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN. “As one of the largest exporters and importers of agricultural commodities, China’s robust food supply, stock and consumption contribute as a great stabiliser in international food market and food security.”

China is expected to have a good harvest this year, with total grain production expected to remain at 650 million metric tons for the sixth consecutive year, despite the impact of COVID-19 and flooding in some areas, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Total grain production for the summer harvest this year exceeded 142 million tons, a rise of 0.9 per cent compared with last summer, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The FAO said production of wheat crops and cereal imports in China are stable, and prices of rice and wheat, two of the most important crops in China, have remained generally steady since the beginning of this year. Throughout the world, however, food security faces challenges caused by the pandemic. An additional 130 million people globally may fall into hunger this year, according to a report jointly released in July by five international organisations.