Farmers from a village in Guang'an, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, transplant rice seedlings to flooded paddies on Sunday, which according to the traditional solar calendar is known as Grain Rain, the ideal time to transplant seedlings to guarantee a good harvest in the fall. Photo: cnsphoto

China's grain inventory can meet domestic demand for more than a year, according to a thorough investigation of grain reserve in the country. 

The nation now boasts very high grain inventories, including staple foods like rice and wheat, the country's National Food Strategic Reserves Administration said on Wednesday.

The investigation, carried out from March 31, 2019, also showed the country's physical inventory of grain is nearing its records and the food reserve is safe and adequate for the country's 1.4 billion to consume for over a year. 

And, there has been improvement in grain variety, as well as production and distribution layout, according to the government agency.

The results come as some foreign countries are restricting grain exports amid the spreading coronavirus pandemic, sparking fears of a global grain shortage. Official data showed China's food supply is secure, given its huge grain output and high reserves.

China's grain output reached a historic high of 660 million tons in 2019, up 0.9 percent year-on-year.

Some large agricultural provinces in China have also increased their acreages for staple grains. Chinese media reported in April that more than 18 million mu (1.2 million hectares) of rice was planned in East China's Jiangxi Province, up 0.1 percent year-on-year, and 18.3 million mu was planned for Central China's Hunan Province. The two are two major grain growing provinces in China.

Global Times