The average return on grain cultivation in 2021 reached its highest level in five years, a senior official from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced during a Monday press briefing.

Domestic grain prices have remained at high levels since 2021, and farmers' returns from growing grain have increased, Fu Linghui, a spokesperson from the NBS said on Monday.

Fu noted that the average return from growing grain is 824 yuan ($121.31) per mu (0.06 hectares), marking the highest level in five years. He added that the jump in return on grain cultivation serves as a motivation for farmers.

Fu said that uncertainties still remain resulting from extreme and unusual weather and agricultural pests and diseases, stressing the importance of managing grain production to ensure the nation's food security.

Fu also said that China's overall grain production has been improving due to favorable conditions to ensure a stable grain supply.

For instance, the production for summer grain continues to improve while the spring sowing activities are progressing smoothly. The nation has also been implementing a number of supportive policies and measures for grain production, such as increasing the minimum purchase prices for rice and wheat.

Fu also said that the impact on the country's spring plowing caused by the domestic COVID-19 outbreaks is limited as responsible authorities have been stepping up efforts to tackle obstacles including logistics bottlenecks.

The main producing areas in China have purchased a total of 370.5 billion jin (185.25 million tons) of autumn grain, an increase of 50 billion jin year-on-year from 2021, marking a successful conclusion of the national autumn grain purchase, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration announced on May 12.

Global Times