Guideline emphasizes importance of grains

Faced with domestic and international uncertainties, Chinese authorities have underlined the importance and urgency of preventing the nongrain use of farmland and stabilizing grain production, according to a guideline released on Nov 17.

Issued by the General Office of the State Council, it said the non- grain use of farmland in some places, including illegal tree planting and pond digging on permanent basic farmland, will affect the nation’s food security if allowed to continue.

Permanent basic farmland refers to high- quality arable land that should be used to produce rice, wheat and corn.

Saying food security should be the top priority of China’s agricultural work, the guideline urged efforts to use farmland in a scientific way, saying that grain production must be the priority in using farmland resources.

It said governments and departments at all levels should further optimize production structures and implement the strictest farmland protection policies to prevent the nongrain use of arable land.

In order to protect farmland and regulate its use, strict restrictions should be placed on the conversion of farmland into other types of agricultural land such as forests and gardens, it said.

While the use of industrial and commercial capital is encouraged in grain processing and circulation in rural areas, the guideline said it should not enable the large- scale transfer of farmland for non- grain purposes.

Agricultural and natural resources authorities across the nation should also monitor and assess grain production on farmland every six months with modern information technologies such as satellite remote sensing, it said.