Concerns over food security have risen in China amid reimposition of Covid 19 induced restrictions with the resurgence of fresh infections in Shanghai and Beijing. The restrictions have led to disruptions in the country’s spring harvest.
A growing chorus of voices emanating from Chinese ministries and state media are calling for an end to excessive coronavirus-control measures that pose a threat to the spring harvest, and by extension the nation’s food security, the South China Morning Post said in a report.
China’s spring harvest season typically begins in April.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission last year said it will focus on the security and stability of energy, food and supply chain in 2022 while effectively expanding consumption and investment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has been stressing that the rice bowl of China must be firmly kept in Chinese hands. Beijing has said that the country’s national security is linked to its food security.
“China is a huge country but the production of rice and other crops has been dropping. The arable land is not very large and many parts of the country face severe weather conditions,” an analyst told India Narrative on condition of anonymity.
Reports have suggested that despite the government taking several steps to ensure that the there is no disruption in the harvest season.
Food security is becoming a cause for concern in several parts of the world. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict preceded by the Covid 19 pandemic could severely impact food security in many countries. The issue of food security is likely to be discussed at length at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 12th ministerial meeting in June. The war has also fanned global food inflation amid broken supply chains. Russia and Ukraine have been large suppliers of wheat. Ukraine, in fact, has been considered the “breadbasket of Europe.”
Most analysts have said that the prices of food are likely to remain high in the coming months. “The worst impacted will be the poorer and vulnerable nations,” one of them told India Narrative.
Also read: China posts 4.8% GDP growth in Jan-March quarter but challenges remain
