China's Agriculture Quality Improving Steadily
CHINA - China will make noticeable progress in agricultural output and quality to meet peoples' demand for better food over the next ten years, according to an outlook report released by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences on Friday.The volume and quality of major agricultural products will continue to rise steadily under policies that promote green, high-yield products and the application of new technologies over the next ten years, according to the report - China Agricultural Outlook 2018-27.
China's annual output of grains, such as rice and wheat, will remain stable at more than 600 million metric tons, but the output of pork, beef, poultry, dairy and fruits is predicted to increase by 1 to 2 per cent on average in coming years.
Meanwhile, the quality of agricultural products will significantly improve, and agricultural production will generally be carried out according to high standards, it said. At the same time, the number of Chinese agricultural brands that have national or global recognition will increase, the report said.
Over the next 10 years, the consumption of agricultural products in China will continue to increase as a result of population growth, growing incomes and urbanization, the report said.
With intensified international cooperation in agriculture, both imports and exports will increase, the report said. Imports of sugar, dairy, aquatic products and mutton will increase most quickly, spurred by demand.
With further opening-up, China is expected to import agricultural products from more countries and regions. And countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative will become important sources for such products, the report said.
China still faces many challenges in developing high-quality agriculture, it said - a dwindling number of farmers, serious environmental pollution in many rural areas and the shortage of land and water resources.
Ke Bingsheng, former president of China Agricultural University, said per capita income in China has increased rapidly since China's reform and opening-up began 40 years ago, and that is reflected in changing patterns in the demand for agricultural products.
"People's consumption of grains as direct food has declined, while consumption of other products such as pork, poultry and aquatic products has increased," he said. "The trend will continue into the future."
Agricultural authorities will make more efforts over the next few years to improve the safety and quality of agricultural products, through the promotion of production standards - including green production - and intensified supervision, under a guideline released by the Agriculture Ministry last year.
TheCattleSite News Desk