Studies On Food Security And Safeguard Mechanism In Jiangsu Province

Grain food has become an important strategic material for the development of national economy. Food security has been involved in every part of national welfare and livelihood and has direct effects on stability of social economy. From 2001 to 2003, the cultivated land area, the grain growing area and total grain yield kept decreasing in grain production of China. Food price began to rise since the fall of 2003, so food security has become the focus of social attention. The fundamental status of agriculture has been enhanced on the three "No.1 documents" issued by the central government every year since 2004. Steadily developing agricultural production has become an important task for governments of every level. To ensure food supply has been a principal objective at present and even long time in the future. Food security has attracted general attention from the academic circle.Food security and co-ordination of supply and demand of a province should be considered with the general situation of national food security rather than seeking for provincial balance. Jiangsu is located in developed area of China, food security of our province share the common characters with others as well as its own. On the one hand, food demand increases rapidly; On the other hand, economic growth, the strategy and pattern for food development of developed area will have demonstrative effects on other regions, and thus influence the general situation of food security of the whole nation. In this paper, based on the reality of population, resources, environment and food security, I am in an attempt to take every aspect in food production, transportation and storage into consideration, analyze the present situation and existing problems concerning food security of Jiangsu province scientifically and propose corresponding strategies and technical plans under the background of national food security.In the first place, I ascended to the conception of food security, elementary connotation and basic requirements for food security, discoursed the great significance of food security, recalled the insurance history of food production and food security. According to fundamental objective defined by provincial government, we proposed primary requirements for food security in Jiangsu: first, keep the balance between production and demand, i.e. total grain yield should meet the ever increasing demand of food in the region. Second, keep long-term balance between supply and demand, i.e. realize long term stability of food supply, possessing mechanisms for input and output of abundant and trustable food. Third, have moderately flexible food storage, i.e. strong regulation ability between bumper and poor harvest. Forth, consider optimizing of cultivar patterns in the meanwhile. As the major grain food for people in Jiangsu, Japonica rice has been the leading and sensitive cultivar arousing unbalance between food supply and demand. As a result, attention should also be given to cultivar structure in production and storage of food.In the second place, I conclude food production and consumption characters in the recent years in Jiangsu, forecast production and consumption amount in the next few years, and claimed that the tight balance between production and demand will last. Seen from the developmental trace of food production in Jiangsu, we are able to make a conclusion of the characters of food production in recent years, decreasing area, improved yield per unit, total output cannot meet the demand and quality effect increases. Based on the twenty-year consumption since reform and opening up to the outside world carried out, the character of grain consumption in Jiangsu can be obtained, i.e. balance in the near future but unbalance in the long term, grain ration was more than self-sufficient while feed grain seriously insufficient. It is predicted that grain production ability of Jiangsu will still reach and maintain 30 million ton in the next few years. Grain consumption includes 16.5 million tons of grain ration, 13 million tons of feed, 3.5 million tons in industry, 500,000 tons of seeds and storage of another 500,000 tons, amounting up to 31.75 million in total. The tight balance between production and demand will continue, more rice than self-sufficient, wheat production will slowly change from self-sufficient to insufficient, feed like corn and barley will be in great shortage and must be imported from other provinces.Third, factors controlling food security of Jiangsu were analyzed. According to the economic development in city and countryside and population trend of Jiangsu in future, the mid-long term grain demand will still increase in a rigid matter. The natural production conditions for food security of Jiangsu indicate the controlling factors are decrease in cultivated land area, hidden trouble in land quality, unsatisfied infrastructure, undeveloped equipment, serious pollution in field, unqualified laborer in countryside, new agricultural technology spreading difficulty, the separation of research and extension in agriculture, low scientific contribution ratio, insufficient strategic support as well as unimproved support methods, weak ability to fight against disasters, great risks in markets and management control in the countryside lags behind development of situation.Last, measures and suggestions were put forward to ensure food security in Jiangsu. Based on maintaining food security of the whole nation, stable food development strategies must be maintained to prevent violent fluctuation. Promote construction of dominant food industry belt to enhance food production ability. Improve circulation mechanism of food market to ensure free-flowing logistics. Build up perfect food storage system and back-up prevention line for food security. In terms of policy, food development strategies ensuring self-sufficient grain ration must be established. Set up valid systems to support food production, enhance implementing of land protection system and encourage cooperation among food production regions within the province. In terms of food production technology, construction of dominant food industry belt should be enhanced. Enforce grand strategic projects such as fine breed propagation, prevention and controlling of plant disease and insect pests, improving agricultural machinery and standard field construction. Protect and improve food production ability. In the meanwhile, set up good circulation system in food market, make efforts to build up perfect central and local food storage systems and sensitive warning systems for food security to guarantee food security in Jiangsu.