Wei Chao an: Focus on Food Security and Rice Production to Gain a Bumper Harvest of Early Rice

Source: MOA Website

On May 4, the meeting on the spring farming of early rice in major producing provinces, organized by MOA was held in Changsha, Hunan Province. Wei Chao an, Vice Minister of Agriculture stressed that the core of food security was grain, and the focus of grain was rice. We should maintain a 100% self-sufficient rate of rice and wheat so as to achieve the 95% self-sufficient rate of grain.

Wei Chao an pointed out that the production of early rice had already entered an important phase in terms of field management. All local governments should seize this favorable opportunity when the temperature rose so as to enhance categorized guidance, implement field management measures, and lay a solid foundation for harvest.

Wei Chao an emphasized that seven major producing provinces of early rice shouldered great responsibility and heavy task of increasing production. At this moment and in the near future, we should expand the areas of early rice so that by the year 2015, the farming area of early rice could reach 100 million mu; enhance mechanized production of rice; curtail the outbreak and spread of pests and diseases; and achieve high yield.

Wei Chao an also conducted field trip to inspect the production of early rice in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces and went to the Research Center of Hybrid Rice in Hunan Province and Hunan Agriculture University to send greetings to the rice expert and academician,Yuan Longping and the oilseed rape expert and academician, Guan Chunyun.

Date: 07:29 5 May 2010