From Chinese Press

Ensuring food security

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-24 10:10

The year has already seen massive natural disasters, which have ravaged the world and reduced grain production, and thus deepened food insecurity. As grain prices continue to surge across the world, many countries including Russia have imposed export restrictions on grains, which is necessary to ensure domestic supplies and control prices, says an article on Xinhuanet. Excerpts:

Some economists in China have expressed concern over such restrictions, saying food self-sufficiency policies adopted by countries are threatening world food security, which can be guaranteed only by market adjustment. But market adjustment is not a reliable tool when it comes to food, for it is interest oriented.

Grain is an everyday need, and of great importance to a country's food security. That's why its supplies and prices should not be adjusted by market mechanism alone.

A country would face food shortage if it's hit by massive natural disasters, which would cause huge crop loss. And if the government doesn't ensure grain supplies, prices would go through the roof.

Hardly does any country depend on market adjustment alone to ensure food security. For example, Russia has imposed export restrictions on barley after having suffered massive losses in the recent wildfires.

China has also issued a national policy to protect farmlands from being used for commercial purposes. These are necessary steps to ensure China's food security in the short and long run both.

The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.