China food security: Beijing assures public vegetable production ‘basically normal’, enough wheat for 18 months
- China’s Ministry of Commerce published a notice on Monday encouraging authorities to do a good job in ensuring food supplies and stable prices ahead of winter
- The advice to stock up on daily necessities in case of emergencies prompted significant confusion, sending some rushing to supermarkets
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China urges citizens to stockpile ‘daily necessities’, sparking fears of food shortages
China’s vegetable production is “basically normal” and it has enough wheat to meet demand for one and a half years, agriculture officials said on Thursday, in a further effort to reassure the public there is no need to worry about shortages.
Despite a recent increase in the price of spinach, lettuce and other leafy vegetables due to extreme weather, the area and output of other major varieties had slightly increased, Tang Ke, director general of the Department of Market and Informatisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.
The total supply is sufficient so consumers don’t need to worry
“The total supply is sufficient so consumers don’t need to worry,” he said.
China is expected to produce 750 million tonnes of vegetables this year, an increase of 1 per cent, added Tang, providing a possible 1.5kg a day per person.
Still, Tang said further efforts were being made to guarantee sufficient vegetable production, with the government “guiding” big producers to expand output and empty greenhouses in northern areas to resume operations.