Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs answering questions on spring farming and agricultural material market operation

On April 20, the State Council Information Office of China held a press briefing on agricultural production in the first quarter of 2022.

At the press conference, Zeng Yande, chief agronomist and director general of the Department of Development and Planning, Pan Wenbo, director general of the Department of Crop Production, along with Chen Ping, head of the Department of Market and Information, answered questions on issues related to spring farming, agricultural material market operations, measures to ensure supply of fertilizers for spring farming, as well as the planting of the summer wheat crop.

Q: COVID-19 has affected spring farming in many regions, with varying degrees of impact. How is spring farming going on at this moment? 

A: Spring farming for this year had been scheduled for an earlier date, prior to the Spring Festival. Coupled with the early start of spring time, higher temperature and better soil tilth, the spring farming has started satisfactorily. The farmer planting plans for grain crops has increased, and spring farming has been proceeding, in general quite smoothly. As of April 19, 199 million mu (1 mu = 1/15 hectare) of spring grain crops have been planted, which accounts for 21.2% of the total area of planting, up 1.3% year on year. The early rice season in south China has been planted up to 70%, the planting area of which is expected to increase slightly; rice nursery seedling in northeast China has been 74.2% completed, up 2.4% year on year. The large-area corn and soybean planting will take place before and after the May Day holiday period.  

Concerning the impact of COVID-19 on spring planting and ploughing, as a result of the broad reemergence of COVID-19 in many regions, where blocking of the flow of people, material and product circulation has been reported due to the lockdown, spring farming is, indeed, affected in some regions. However, in general, the spread of COVID-19 could be contained in rural areas, where the risk is relatively lower. At present, the preparedness for spring farming is ending, and the rate of supply of seeds, pesticides and fertilizers has reached 90%, which secures supplies of the total quantity, as required. 

Q: Jilin is a large grain producing province, where COVID-19 has continued for a long time. Will it affect the spring planting and ploughing in the province? To stabilize the large volume grain production in northeast China, what measures are expected from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs? 

A: Jilin is a major grain producing province and an important commodity grain base, with a grain output of about 40 billion kilograms, which is an important safeguard for the food security of the country. The food grain in Jilin covers corn, rice and soybean, planting, which had been made ready in March and April. The large-area rice seedling begins on 4 – 5 April, for massive transplantating in mid-May; planting of corn begins in mid-to-late April, which will be in full swing before and after the May Day holiday period; and planting of soybean will be slightly later than corn. 

The reemergence of COVID-19 in Jilin occurred in March. Up to date, this round of new cases has been cleared or put under control, which allows the production activities, and people’s lives, to gradually get back to normal. In the early stage of the reemergence of COVID-19, due to lockdown, preparations for spring farming went slower than usual. For example, we determined that, by the end of March, the rate of supply of fertilizers in Jilin was only about 68%, down 12.7% year on year.

Stakeholders at all levels have paid close attention and shown great support to spring farming, which might be affected by COVID-19. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has taken special measures to help Jilin Province solve problems and overcome difficulties, whilst Jilin has taken various actions to prepare for the spring farming, while combating COVID-19. So far, the spring planting and ploughing in Jilin have returned better than expected. Seeds have been completely supplied to farmers; the rate of supply of fertilizers to farmers has reached 97.6%, which is up 0.6% year on year; rice nursery seedlings are near its completion. Spring farming is about to reach its peak very soon. 

Q: We are currently at the busy season of spring farming, when the prices of fertilizers on the domestic market are rising all the way due to the cost increrases in raw materials on the international market. How would you comment on the agricultural material market operation this year? What measures will the government take to ensure sufficient supplies of fertilizers in support of the spring farming? 

A: According to the forecast of industry associations, the total demand for fertilizers during spring farming this year is about 39.80 million tons, in contrast to the total availability of 48.3 million tons, which includes fertilizers already produced, stored and imported. To this end, the total volume of chemical fertilizers is secured. At present, due to the surge in fertilizer prices in the international fertilizer market and the rising cost of raw materials, such as anthracite and sulfur in the Chinese market, fertilizer prices have continued to stay high; part of the varieties of products are in short supply, resulting in continued price increases. In March, the average ex-factory prices of urea, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride and compound fertilizer rose, respectively, by 36.6%, 13.7%, 83.9% and 43%, year on year. 

To ensure a sufficient supply of fertilizers at stable prices in support of the spring farming this year, the central government has allocated a financing support of RMB20 billion as a one-off subsidy to farmers who are growing crops. This is provided for the purposes of mitigating the impact of the price increase of agricultural materials, stabilization of farmer’s grain production incomes and motivation of farmers’ enthusiasm for grain production.

Q: Summer grain is the first run of grain production this year. What is the current situation of production of the summer wheat? 

A: The seedling upgrading of summer wheat is better than expected, and there is a reason to predict a good harvest. Its sown area remains basically stable at 336 million mu. Since the planting area of summer grain crops, such as spring wheat, potato and legumes has increased, we are expecting increased cultivation of summer grain crops this year. 

In addition, as the upgrading of seedlings appear much better than expected and in the circumstance of the special difficulties in wheat production, the central government has urgently allocated a subsidy of RMB5 billion to support upgrading of weak seedlings to strong seedlings, followed by a one-off subsidy of RMB20 billion in favor of farmers, who are really growing grain crops. 

On an earlier date, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs formulated a work plan and technical guideline in response to the requirement of disaster relief and harvest gain, which will serve to guide the field management of late-sown wheat. At present, the percentage difference between class 1 seedlings and class 2 seedlings of winter wheat is 87.9%, which is an increase of 17.4% before wintering and a decrease of 3.7% over last year. This is basically identical with the growth trend throughout the year. 

China’s grain harvest has continued for consecutive years. The total grain output last year hit an all-time high, having reached 682.85 billion kilograms, where the output of rice and wheat, the two major grain rations, reached 349.8 billion kilograms, allowing for a per capita quantity of 248 kilograms and per capita food consumption of 200 kg. It can be seen that the food rations are secured. At present, the national grain stocks have been adequate against all possible risks.