BEIJING: October 16 marks World Food Day and this week is being observed as China’s National Grain Security Publicity Week. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, over 60 percent of China’s autumn grain has been harvested, including nearly 70 percent of middle-season rice, 55 percent of corn and about 80 percent of soybeans.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, China deepened its national food security strategy, emphasizing farmland protection and technological innovation to ensure stable production. The country’s per capita grain availability has reached 500 kilograms, well above the internationally recognized food security line of 400 kilograms, achieving basic self-sufficiency in grains and absolute security in staple foods.
In line with the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has continued to strengthen the agricultural foundation, advance supply-side structural reform, and promote rural industrial revitalization. Over the past five years, the nation’s annual grain output has remained above 1.3 trillion jin (650 million tonnes), surpassing 1.4 trillion jin in 2024, an increase of 74 billion jin from 2020.
Modern agricultural technologies have played a vital role. China has built over 100 million hectares of high-standard farmland, achieved a mechanization rate of more than 75 percent in crop cultivation, and reached a seed coverage rate exceeding 96 percent for major crops. From the black soil of the northeast to the fertile plains of the Yangtze River, technology continues to power China’s agricultural modernization.
A good harvest also means better livelihoods for rural residents. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s rural road network exceeded 4.64 million kilometers, improving access to markets and tourism. Nationwide, over 140,000 villages have been greened and beautified, while rural e-commerce and livestreaming have opened new channels for agricultural sales.
As a result, rural residents’ per capita disposable income rose from 17,131 yuan (about $2,403) in 2020 to 23,119 yuan in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 8 percent.
China’s achievements highlight not only abundant harvests and technological progress but also a growing sense of shared responsibility, ensuring that every grain counts and that prosperity is rooted in sustainable, secure food systems. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
