At 10:00 a.m. on April 20, 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs held a press conference to present the first-quarter performance of the agricultural and rural economy and answer questions from reporters. Liu Junyong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Deputy Director of the General Office, chaired the press conference.
Liu Junyong, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs:
Ladies and gentlemen, media friends, good morning! Today is April 20—the Grain Rain solar term—and we warmly welcome you to the regular press conference held by the News Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The topic of today’s briefing is the economic performance of agriculture and rural areas in the first quarter. Joining us are Mr. Zeng Yande, Director-General of the Department of Development Planning at the Ministry; Mr. Song Danyang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Market and Information; Ms. Liu Lihua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Planting Industry Management; and Mr. Chen Guanghua, Deputy Director-General of the Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. They will provide insights into the situation and be available to answer your questions.
On this occasion, we’d also like to inform everyone that starting from next quarter, we’ll hold our regular press conferences on the 20th of each first month—January, April, July, and October. If these dates fall on a weekend or public holiday, we’ll adjust the schedule slightly, so please keep an eye out for our announcements.
As for the two previously separate routine press conferences—the one on the agricultural product market situation and the one on the rural and agricultural economic outlook—we’ve decided to merge them into a single event moving forward.
Now, let’s welcome Director Zeng Yande to provide us with more details.
Zeng Yande, Director-General of the Department of Development Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (photo by Guo Tianhu)
Zeng Yande, Director-General of the Department of Development Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs:
Good morning, friends from the media! Today happens to be Guyu, a traditional Chinese agricultural festival often summed up by the saying, "It's the perfect time to plant grains during Guyu." Right now, spring farming and sowing activities have entered a critical phase, and overall, the agricultural and rural economy is performing quite well. With that in mind, let me briefly outline the outlook for the agricultural and rural economy in the coming quarter.
Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has firmly implemented the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping as well as the decisions and plans made by the Party Central Committee and the State Council. The ministry has worked diligently to ensure robust spring agricultural production, prioritizing the effective supply of "vegetable basket" products. At the same time, it has coordinated efforts across various fronts—such as industrial development, increasing farmers' incomes, rural infrastructure projects, and agricultural reforms—to strengthen and expand achievements in poverty alleviation, while seamlessly aligning these initiatives with乡村振兴 (Rural Revitalization) strategies. As a result, the agricultural and rural economy has maintained strong growth momentum, providing solid support for stabilizing overall economic and social development. This progress is particularly evident in the following seven key areas:
First, there’s a solid foundation for a bountiful summer grain harvest.
This year, for the first time, the central government has included grain production as a key target in macroeconomic regulation and control, setting a minimum output goal of over 1.3 trillion jin. This is no easy task—it’s a tough battle we’re determined to win. Currently, the annual grain production targets have been broken down and assigned to each province, region, and city, with tailored strategies developed for specific crops and regions to ensure stable and even increased yields. At the same time, we’re stepping up efforts to streamline the distribution of agricultural inputs and provide robust technical guidance, ensuring that spring farming activities proceed smoothly and efficiently.
Overall, this year’s summer grain production looks promising, thanks to two key factors: First, acreage has expanded—according to our ministry’s agricultural monitoring system, winter wheat acreage has increased by more than 3 million mu, marking the first rise in four years. Second, crop conditions are excellent: In major producing areas, wheat growth is already better than last year and the long-term average, with most regions now entering the ear-forming and heading stages, and overall development progressing slightly faster than usual. Meanwhile, spring planting is off to a strong start, with grain sowing already surpassing 20% of the planned area—slightly ahead of last year’s pace.
Second, pig production continues to recover.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, at the end of the first quarter, the national sow inventory stood at 43.18 million, recovering to 96.6% of the level seen at the end of 2017. Meanwhile, the live pig population reached 416 million, representing 94.2% of the 2017 year-end figure. Pork production totaled 13.69 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 31.9%.
As supply and demand conditions continue to improve, pork prices have now fallen for 12 consecutive weeks, dropping to around 40 yuan per kilogram—about 25% lower than the same period last year. Meanwhile, the grass-fed livestock industry is accelerating its growth, with milk production up 8.5% year-on-year. Additionally, output of beef, mutton, and aquatic products has also risen significantly.
On the other hand, vegetable and fruit markets are well-supplied, leading to seasonal price declines.
Third, green agricultural development is advancing in greater depth.
The reduction and efficiency enhancement of agricultural inputs continue to advance steadily, with more than 300 counties selected to comprehensively implement green, high-quality, and high-efficiency initiatives. The decade-long fishing ban in the Yangtze River has been fully launched, resulting in the dismantling and removal of over 3,000 "three-no" fishing vessels and 41,000 illegal fishing gear. Meanwhile, 99.96% of retired fishermen who expressed employment needs have successfully transitioned into new livelihoods. Additionally, an initiative has been rolled out to upgrade agricultural production through "Three Products and One Standard," ensuring that routine monitoring of agricultural product safety consistently maintains an approval rate above 97%. To date, the total number of certified green, organic, and geographically indicated agricultural products has reached 53,800.
Fourth, rural industries are accelerating their development.
This is a crucial pathway to boosting farmers' employment and incomes. We remain committed to strengthening agricultural value chains, expanding the diverse functions of agriculture, and enhancing the multifaceted value of rural areas—striving continuously and accelerating development in these areas. In the first quarter, the added value of China's agro-food processing industry grew by 15.2% year-on-year. During the Spring Festival holiday, most rural tourism attractions across the country remained open as usual, making farm stays—a chance to enjoy farming activities and savor local cultural vibes—an increasingly popular choice for residents traveling out of town. Meanwhile, rural online retail sales continued to grow at double-digit rates.
Fifth, farmers' incomes have been growing rapidly.
We are committed to adopting a multi-pronged approach to broaden farmers' income-generating opportunities. In the first quarter, the per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 5,398 yuan, representing a real growth of 16.3% after adjusting for price factors—4 percentage points higher than the income growth rate of urban residents. Meanwhile, both the total number of rural workers going out to find employment and their average earnings saw significant increases: the total workforce engaged in off-farm jobs rose to 174 million, up 42.1% year-on-year, while monthly earnings averaged 4,190 yuan, reflecting a robust 13.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, specialized agricultural and livestock industries in formerly impoverished areas are thriving, and employment stability among laborers who have been lifted out of poverty remains strong. As a result, rural residents continue to enjoy income growth that outpaces the national average.
Sixth, the potential for domestic demand in rural areas continues to unlock.
As the Rural Revitalization Strategy continues to be implemented in depth, rural areas have emerged as a key growth driver for expanding domestic demand. Agricultural investment has surged, with fixed-asset investment in the primary sector reaching 236.2 billion yuan—up 45.9% year-on-year and averaging a robust 14.8% growth over the past two years. Meanwhile, rural consumption is rebounding rapidly, with retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas climbing to 1.3875 trillion yuan, marking a 29.4% increase compared to the same period last year and an average growth rate of 3.2% over the past two years. Additionally, agricultural trade has achieved dual growth, with total import and export value reaching $67.79 billion—a 27.1% rise from the previous year. Specifically, imports totaled $49.69 billion, up 33.8% year-on-year, while exports reached $18.1 billion, representing a 11.5% increase over the same period.
Seventh, promote integrated advancement in rural development.
Launch and implement the Rural Construction Initiative, developing a detailed implementation plan. Focus on areas that simultaneously boost production and enhance farmers' quality of life, increasing investment and accelerating progress. Coordinate efforts to advance village road construction, while strengthening the development of agricultural product storage, preservation, and cold-chain logistics infrastructure at production sites. Additionally, formulate a five-year action plan for improving and upgrading rural living environments, and organize and carry out the Spring Campaign for Village Cleanup, continuously enhancing the overall rural living conditions.
Area is the cornerstone of production. This year, with approval from the State Council, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has once again allocated grain-production targets to各省—specifically, area has been designated as a binding indicator. Local regions are now further refining and concretizing these area targets, ensuring clear accountability that extends down to the county and township levels. Meanwhile, the central government has intensified its support for grain production even more, raising the minimum procurement prices for rice and wheat by 1 cent each compared to last year. The ministry has also consolidated and implemented direct funding totaling 24 billion yuan to bolster grain production—nearly 6 billion yuan more than last year, marking the highest level of financial support in recent years.
Liu Junyong:
Thank you, Director Zeng Yande, for your introduction. Now, we’ll move on to the Q&A session. Please feel free to ask questions related to today’s press conference theme. Before asking your question, kindly state the name of the news organization you represent.
CCTV reporter from China Media Group:
This year's Government Work Report clearly stated that grain production must remain above 1.3 trillion jin—a tough and critical task. Could you please share how spring farming is progressing so far? And what measures are being taken to ensure that the annual grain production targets are met? Thank you.
This question will be answered by Comrade Liu Lihua, Deputy Director of the Department of Planting Industry.
Liu Lihua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Crop Management at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (photographed by Guo Tianhu)
Liu Lihua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Crop Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ：
Thank you for your attention to food production. This year, the central government has, for the first time, included grain output as a key macroeconomic regulation target, clearly demonstrating its strong emphasis on ensuring food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is firmly committed to implementing the decisions and plans laid out by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, placing the urgent and effective promotion of grain production at the top of its priorities. To achieve this goal, the ministry has launched five major initiatives aimed at stabilizing and boosting grain yields, outlining a clear roadmap, setting specific timelines, and employing a "battle map" approach—working meticulously and collaboratively across all stages—to ensure a bountiful harvest for the year and maintain grain production above 1.3 trillion jin.
To achieve this year's grain production targets, we'll focus on three key areas: First, balance both moral principles and economic interests while stabilizing acreage. Area is the foundation of production. This year, with approval from the State Council, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has once again allocated grain-production targets to各省—specifically, area has been designated as a binding indicator. Local regions are now further refining and concretizing these area targets, ensuring accountability is clearly assigned down to the county and township levels. Meanwhile, the central government has stepped up its support for grain production even more, raising the minimum procurement prices for rice and wheat by 1 cent each compared to last year. The ministry has also consolidated and implemented direct funding totaling 24 billion yuan to support grain production—nearly 6 billion yuan more than last year, marking the highest level of financial support in recent years.
The other is enhancing technology to boost yields.
Focusing on the critical areas of arable land and seeds, we’re taking decisive steps to kick-start a transformative effort in the seed industry and ensure steady progress. This includes completing the construction of 100 million mu of high-standard farmland.
Additionally, we’re rolling out green, high-quality, and high-efficiency demonstration projects across more than 300 cities and counties, integrating and promoting 60 region-specific, eco-friendly, and highly effective technology models. These initiatives will drive widespread, balanced yield increases while setting the stage for sustained agricultural growth.
Meanwhile, we’ve launched the "100-Day Campaign to Secure a Bumper Summer Grain Harvest," strengthening targeted guidance and ensuring the implementation of key farming techniques.
Another one is disaster prevention, pest control, and loss reduction.
This year, the weather outlook is far from optimistic—extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, severe cold, and intense heat are likely to occur frequently. At the same time, major pests and diseases are showing signs of recurring outbreaks. To address these challenges, we’ve proactively developed disaster prevention and mitigation plans, guiding regions across the country to implement science-based strategies for coping with disasters. We’ve also launched the "Save Crops from Pests, Secure a Bumper Harvest" campaign, particularly focusing on strengthening the "four-line defense system" against the fall armyworm in grasslands. These measures are helping us effectively reduce losses caused by both meteorological disasters and pest infestations, ensuring that we can successfully overcome adversity and achieve a bountiful harvest.
Today marks the Grain Rain solar term in the lunar calendar, a time when rain nurtures all grains and fosters the growth of crops. Across the country, farmers from south to north have already entered the busy spring plowing season. Based on reports from various regions, the overall situation for spring farming is looking promising, with grain production off to an excellent start for the year.
First, the foundation for summer grain crops is strong. As Director Zeng just mentioned, this year’s summer grain acreage has increased—specifically, winter wheat cultivation has expanded by more than 3 million mu. Currently, wheat in the southwestern region is filling its grains, while in the Jianghuai area, it’s heading and flowering. In the Huang-Huai region, wheat is just beginning to head out. Most wheat fields are benefiting from ideal soil moisture conditions, and overall, wheat growth is better than last year and above-average levels, laying a solid groundwork for a bountiful harvest.
Second, spring plowing activities are progressing rapidly. Thanks to favorable grain prices and robust government policies supporting agricultural production, farmers across the board are showing high enthusiasm for planting grains this year. As a result, the intended area for grain cultivation remains stable yet continues to grow. Localities have kicked off preparations early, ensuring smooth and efficient spring farming operations. Meanwhile, supplies of agricultural inputs—including seeds, fertilizers, and machinery—are plentiful, and our latest monitoring indicates that delivery rates to villages and households are also quite high. According to the most recent agricultural updates, nationwide spring planting of grains has already surpassed 20% of the planned area. Notably, early rice transplanting is over 70% complete, while spring corn planting has reached more than 10%. Overall, these progress rates are faster than the same period last year.
Next, we will continue to prioritize food production as the top task in agricultural and rural development, providing precise guidance and promoting progress tailored to specific regions. We’ll ensure timely implementation of farming activities this spring—both in terms of field management and planting—to secure a successful start to the summer grain harvest. Our goal is to maintain or even expand the area dedicated to spring planting, while keeping the total annual grain acreage stable at no less than 17.5 million mu. Additionally, we aim to increase corn cultivation by more than 10 million mu, ensuring that the nation’s overall grain output remains above 1.3 trillion jin this year. Thank you.
Guangming Daily reporter:
Consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation efforts requires the critical development and strengthening of specialized industries. Could you please share what considerations and initiatives the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has in place to promote the sustained growth of these specialty industries in areas that have already shaken off poverty? Thank you.
Zeng Yande ：
This is a very pertinent question—it’s an issue that regions that have successfully shaken off poverty are now deeply focused on following the battle against poverty. Promoting the development of specialized industries in these areas is not only an urgent necessity for consolidating and expanding the achievements made in poverty alleviation, but also a critical step in seamlessly advancing rural revitalization efforts. In line with directives from the Party Central Committee and the State Council, in April of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Rural Revitalization Administration, and eight other departments, jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Sustainable Development of Specialized Industries in Poverty-Alleviated Areas," laying out specific plans for fostering these industries during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
Next, we must take proactive steps, embrace our responsibilities, and steadily advance the development of specialized farming and livestock industries. From a practical standpoint, we’re primarily focusing on four key areas:
First, implement a special action to enhance specialty farming and livestock industries. This is also explicitly stated in this year's No. 1 Central Document—after all, the core task remains fostering leading industries. Specifically, we need to focus on three key areas: First, Strengthen planning guidance. Guide poverty-alleviation regions in developing their "14th Five-Year Plan" for specialized industrial development, and encourage the concentration of more resources—such as capital, technology, talent, and information—in these areas. The key is to establish "four mechanisms":
1. A production-and-sales linkage mechanism—launching joint initiatives to showcase and sell specialty products from poverty-alleviation areas, while implementing consumption-based support programs to ensure these agricultural specialties not only find buyers but also fetch competitive prices.
2. A technical service mechanism—fully rolling out the special appointment program for agricultural technology extension, and establishing an industrial technology advisory system in key counties receiving targeted assistance for rural revitalization.
3. A collaborative-driven mechanism—intensifying efforts to nurture and support new types of business entities, enabling them to better help脱贫户 (households lifted out of poverty) and small farmers adopt modern agricultural practices.
4. A risk-prevention mechanism—integrating industrial development into the critical monitoring framework for preventing households from falling back into poverty, while refining specific measures to proactively identify and address potential risks. Guide poverty-alleviation regions to leverage their resource advantages and industrial foundations by fostering a group of leading industries that demonstrate strong growth potential and significant ripple effects. By accelerating the development of standardized production bases and upgrading the agricultural processing sector, we can cultivate a selection of regional public brands that are "large yet high-quality" as well as "small but beautifully crafted." Ultimately, these initiatives will help poverty-stricken areas consolidate their achievements through robust industrial growth. Third, build platform infrastructure. Support each poverty-alleviated county in selecting 1-2 leading industries, establishing agricultural product processing parks and modern agricultural industrial parks, and fostering the development of the entire industry chain.
Second, stabilize and strengthen support policies.
There are numerous policies in this area, with a primary focus on stabilizing and strengthening three key aspects:
First, in terms of fiscal investment, we will continue to leverage central government subsidies aimed at advancing rural revitalization, prioritizing support for the development of specialized industries in formerly impoverished regions—and gradually increasing the proportion of funds allocated specifically to fostering these industries each year.
Second, in finance and insurance, we’ll maintain small-scale credit programs to help households that have recently escaped poverty develop their businesses, while also encouraging those with significant financing needs to apply for entrepreneurial guarantee loans. Additionally, we’ll expand the scope of the central government’s pilot program that provides financial incentives—rather than direct subsidies—to promote insurance coverage for locally advantageous and distinctive agricultural products, further encouraging impoverished areas to create tailored insurance products for their unique industries.
Finally, during the transition period, we’ll specially allocate annual quotas for newly added construction land to impoverished regions, ensuring that land requirements for thriving specialty industries are met as a top priority.
Third, strengthen service support.
The key is to establish "four mechanisms":
1. A production-and-sales linkage mechanism—launching joint initiatives to showcase and sell specialty products from poverty-alleviation areas, while implementing consumption-based support programs to ensure these agricultural specialties not only find buyers but also fetch competitive prices.
2. A technical service mechanism—fully rolling out the special appointment program for agricultural technology extension, and establishing an industrial technology advisory system in key counties receiving targeted assistance for rural revitalization.
3. A collaborative-driven mechanism—intensifying efforts to nurture and support new types of business entities, enabling them to better help脱贫户 (households lifted out of poverty) and small farmers adopt modern agricultural practices.
4. A risk-prevention mechanism—integrating industrial development into the critical monitoring framework for preventing households from falling back into poverty, while refining specific measures to proactively identify and address potential risks.
Fourth, strengthen evaluation and scheduling.
Make the sustainable development of featured industries in poverty-alleviation areas a key component of performance evaluations for city and county Party and government leadership teams and officials, tasked with advancing rural revitalization. Regularly monitor and coordinate the implementation of policies and measures, ensure adequate financial support, and track the scale of industrial growth. This will reinforce the primary responsibility of poverty-alleviation counties, providing robust organizational backing for the thriving development of local specialty industries. Thank you.
Economic Daily Reporter:
Since the beginning of this year, corn prices have remained high. While rising grain prices are beneficial for farmers to increase their incomes, they could also pose certain challenges for industries like feed processing. Could you please share how the current situation in the corn market is being assessed? Additionally, what specific measures does the agriculture and rural affairs department plan to implement next to ensure stable production and supply? Thank you.
Song Danyang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Market and Information Technology at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (photo by Guo Tianhu)
Song Danyang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Market and Information Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ：
Thank you for your question. Corn has a wide range of applications and a long industrial chain, making it a crop whose price fluctuations attract significant societal attention. According to our monitoring, the corn market in the first quarter of this year generally unfolded in two distinct phases: The first phase, before the Spring Festival, was driven primarily by strong demand and tight grain supplies in circulation, leading to continuously rising prices. The second phase, after the Spring Festival, saw temperatures rise, prompting farmers and traders to accelerate their sales. As a result, market supply eased temporarily, causing prices to stabilize and even decline slightly.
Currently, the purchase price of corn in Northeast and North China stands at approximately 1.35 to 1.4 yuan per jin in the Northeast region, while in North China, prices hover around 1.45 to 1.5 yuan. Although these price levels represent a significant increase compared to last year, they remain only slightly higher than the historic peak recorded in 2014. Overall, this recovery-driven rise is fueled by growing demand for corn and rising production costs over recent years. The modest yet steady increase in corn prices has finally allowed corn farmers—who have faced years of losses—to start seeing positive net profits again. Coupled with supportive government policies aimed at stabilizing the market, farmers’ enthusiasm for planting corn has surged dramatically this year, paving the way for a notable rebound in the area planted with corn.
Meanwhile, the rise in corn prices has inevitably driven up downstream feed and livestock production costs. In response, we are working closely with relevant authorities to ensure a steady supply of feed grains. While prioritizing grain production, we’re taking multiple measures—such as increasing the release of excess-stored rice and wheat, appropriately expanding imports of corn and its substitutes, and guiding demand adjustments—to stabilize the market. Looking ahead, considering factors like farmers' and traders' remaining inventories, processing companies' stockpiles, and import volumes, the market supply is expected to remain ample until the new corn harvest hits the market. As a result, there’s little support for sustained price increases. Once the autumn grain harvest begins, market conditions should improve further. Ultimately, China will continue to maintain its commitment to ensuring basic self-sufficiency in grain production, firmly keeping the domestic supply-demand balance intact. Thank you.
China's San Nong Report journalist:
Since January of this year, pork prices have been declining steadily for nearly three months, sparking public concerns about "low pig prices hurting farmers." So, what does the future hold for pork supply and price trends? And what additional measures will be implemented to ensure the stable development of the hog industry? Thank you.
Chen Guanghua, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, answers questions from reporters. Photographed by Guo Tianhu
Chen Guanghua, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs:
As you just mentioned, pork prices have indeed dropped quite rapidly in recent months, with current prices now falling to their lowest level since the recovery of hog production began this cycle. According to monitoring data, during the third week of April (April 12–18), the national wholesale market price for pork reached 38.96 yuan per kilogram—marking the 12th consecutive week of decline. This represents a year-on-year drop of 27.6%, nearly 15.26 yuan lower than the peak price recorded in the third week of January, and an impressive 20.68 yuan decrease compared to last year’s highest point (the third week of February 2020). Interestingly, pork prices have recently shown signs of rebounding amid some volatility. After hitting a nationwide low of 21.14 yuan per kilogram on April 10, live pig prices have already climbed back up to 23.35 yuan today, April 20.
The recent sharp drop in pork prices is primarily due to a significant increase in the number of pigs being sent to market, coupled with declining pork consumption after the Spring Festival—two factors that have coincided. Additionally, panic selling by some farmers has created a "stampede effect."
Typically, pork prices follow a seasonal pattern, and around the Dragon Boat Festival, we can expect a potential price rebound as demand for pork traditionally picks up. However, based on projections from current levels of newly born piglets, it’s estimated that in the second quarter, large-scale pig farms across the country will see a year-on-year increase of up to 50% in the volume of market-ready fattened pigs. This suggests that, despite the seasonal uptick, overall market supply will remain ample, making it unlikely for prices to surpass their previous peaks.
Overall, the period of tightest pork supply has already passed, and supply conditions are expected to ease further in the coming months. Based on the current momentum in production recovery, hog inventories are likely to return to normal levels by June or July this year. And about four months later, monthly slaughter volumes will also gradually rebound to their typical yearly averages.
Moving forward, we will continue to simultaneously prioritize both the recovery of pig production and the prevention and control of African Swine Fever, ensuring that these two critical efforts reinforce each other. We’ll align closely with our established goals for fully restoring production, assigning responsibilities at every level, coordinating policy implementation, and steadily boosting herd expansion and replenishment—while firmly maintaining the momentum of recovery and ensuring that the national pig inventory continues to grow.
At the same time, we’ll remain vigilant in our disease防控 efforts, rigorously reinforcing routine防控 measures across all stages of the supply chain. This includes strengthening surveillance, monitoring, quarantine protocols, and regulatory oversight at every step. We’ll also pilot a regional防控 approach for major animal diseases like African Swine Fever nationwide, while continuing to build disease-free zones and communities. Most importantly, we’ll resolutely prevent any resurgence of outbreaks.
Looking ahead, we’ll explore long-term solutions by establishing a strategic reserve system for pig production capacity. This will involve enhancing monitoring and early warning mechanisms, refining policy tools for market regulation, and stabilizing core production levels. By proactively identifying potential risks and intervening promptly, we aim to avoid extreme fluctuations in both pig production and market prices. Thank you.
I’d like to add one more point: currently, our department is collaborating with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Bureau of Statistics to establish a robust, authoritative information-dissemination system for the entire hog industry chain. By creating a unified and trusted platform, we’ll centrally share comprehensive data on the hog industry—from breeding to processing—helping producers make informed decisions about capacity adjustments, effectively managing market expectations, and stabilizing price fluctuations. We’ll be holding our first official release soon, followed by regular monthly updates at a fixed time. Please stay tuned for more details. Thank you.
I’d like to ask a question related to fertilizers. Since last winter, prices of agricultural inputs like fertilizers have been rising across the board. Could you explain how this will affect this year’s spring farming production? Additionally, what measures are in place to ensure a stable supply and steady pricing of fertilizers? Thank you.
Thank you for your question. Since last winter and into this spring, China’s agricultural input prices—including fertilizers—have continued to rise, driven by factors such as soaring raw material costs for coal and sulfur, winter environmental production restrictions, and the ripple effects of rising international prices. Among these, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers have seen particularly significant price increases. According to monitoring data, from January to March 2021, the average ex-factory price of domestically produced urea reached 1,979 yuan per ton, up 13.7% year-on-year; diammonium phosphate (DAP) averaged 2,922 yuan per ton, a sharp 31% increase compared to the same period last year; while potassium chloride saw its ex-factory price dip slightly by 1.8% to 2,070 yuan per ton. Meanwhile, compound fertilizer prices rose by 8.5%, reaching an average of 2,293 yuan per ton.
Of course, rising fertilizer costs will inevitably push up the overall cost of grain production. Based on a rough estimate assuming a 15% increase in average fertilizer prices, this year, the per-jin production cost for rice, wheat, and corn—the three major grains—is expected to rise by approximately 2 cents. In essence, this could offset some of the gains previously achieved from higher grain prices.
However, although fertilizer prices have risen, China’s abundant production capacity and strategic reserves ensure that, overall, supply continues to exceed demand this spring for the start of planting. Fertilizer availability remains robust, with high rates of farmers completing their stock preparations, guaranteeing a steady market supply. In particular, during March, as companies ramped up operations and released commercial fertilizer reserves, prices for urea and diammonium phosphate have already begun to ease compared to earlier levels. Looking ahead, fertilizer prices are expected to remain stable.
Moving forward, our department will strengthen communication and coordination with departments such as NDRC, MIIT, and SASAC, ensuring the smooth operation of agricultural input enterprises, maintaining unimpeded logistics and last-mile delivery, and promptly implementing fertilizer reserve management and regulation. We will also continue stepping up efforts to combat counterfeit agricultural inputs, adopting a multi-pronged approach to stabilize fertilizer supply and prices, thereby supporting the overall success of spring farming operations. Thank you.
Reporter from China Rural Magazine:
General Secretary Xi Jinping, at last year's Central Rural Work Conference, emphasized the need to promote variety improvement, quality enhancement, brand development, and standardized production. Could you please share the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' plans and initiatives for implementing these key directives? Thank you.
Zeng Yande:
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized the need to deepen the supply-side structural reform in agriculture, driving efforts to improve varieties, enhance quality, build strong brands, and promote standardized production. This important statement aligns with the people's growing aspirations for a better life, while also charting a clear course for advancing high-quality agricultural development. We must deeply understand and firmly implement it.
To meet the demands of upgrading consumer preferences, we must increase the supply of green, high-quality, and specialty agricultural products. The key to achieving this goal lies in focusing on two core initiatives: "Three Products and One Standard."
The first initiative centers on product development, emphasizing the expansion of green, organic, and geographically indicated agricultural production, while also promoting the implementation of a compliance certification system for food products.
The second initiative focuses on production practices, prioritizing efforts to improve crop varieties, enhance product quality, build strong brands, and promote standardized farming methods.
The "Three Products and One Standard" approach to agricultural production is a vital strategy for driving the industry’s green transformation—and it plays a crucial role in advancing high-quality agricultural development.
In March of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs officially released the "Implementation Plan for Enhancing Agricultural Production through the 'Three Products and One Standard' Initiative," outlining specific measures to support these efforts.
On the path, it is reflected in four aspects: First, we will advance variety improvement. To advance breeding innovation, we must accelerate the development of new, green, safe, high-quality, and highly efficient varieties. This includes identifying a pool of outstanding germplasm resources, purifying and revitalizing a number of locally distinctive varieties, selecting and breeding a batch of groundbreaking, eco-friendly cultivars, and establishing several premier seed-production bases. Second, we will advance quality improvement. The key is to purify the agricultural production environment, promote the use of eco-friendly inputs, integrate and disseminate green production technology models, and expand the cultivation of high-quality wheat varieties with strong or weak gluten, as well as soybeans rich in oil and protein. Strict regulations will be enforced on the use of agricultural inputs. Third, advance brand building. Cultivate well-known brands and develop a group of influential regional public brands, agricultural product brands, and corporate brands. Enhance the brand catalog system. Fourth, promote standardized production. Following the principle of "adopt standards where available, create standards where none exist, and integrate standards throughout the entire process," we will establish a comprehensive modern agricultural industry-wide standard system to support new agricultural business entities—such as farmer cooperatives and leading enterprises—in producing according to these standards.
Promoting the "Three Products and One Standard" in agricultural production is a new and challenging task that requires innovative thinking, sustained effort, and continuous advancement over the long term.
First, focus on prioritizing and advancing key initiatives.
It mainly revolves around two key aspects: first, priority crops—specifically high-quality grain and oil crops, specialty economic crops, and unique livestock and agricultural products; and second, priority regions—these will be comprehensively implemented across agricultural modernization demonstration zones, pilot areas for green agricultural development, counties focused on agricultural product quality and safety, as well as national modern agricultural industrial parks, leading clusters of specialized agricultural industries, strong agricultural towns, and "One Village, One Product" demonstration villages and towns, ultimately creating a group of exemplary models.
Second, mobilize resources to drive progress.
The focus lies on two key areas: First, strengthening policy support. Project funding for initiatives such as green agricultural development, rural industry growth, high-quality seed and breeding programs, and agricultural product quality and safety oversight will be strategically directed toward regions implementing the "Three Products and One Standard" program. At the same time, financial institutions will be encouraged to provide support for agricultural production aligned with the "Three Products and One Standard" framework. Second, enhancing scientific and technological backing by supporting research institutions in collaborative breeding efforts, accelerating the development of a batch of groundbreaking, breakthrough varieties.
Third, consolidate efforts and move forward.
Guide local areas to treat the "Three Products and One Standard" in agricultural production as a key component for promoting high-quality agricultural development, increasing investment, and ensuring steady progress. Encourage new types of agricultural operators to proactively adopt the "Three Products and One Standard," helping them establish green, high-quality product bases, build renowned brand names, and foster a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach that links stakeholders at all levels. Thank you.
Liu Junyong:
Thank you to all our media friends for your tremendous support, and special thanks to Director Zeng Yande, Deputy Directors Song Danyang and Liu Lihua, as well as Deputy Director-General Chen Guanghua, for joining us. That concludes today’s press conference.
Source: China.org
Reporter: Niu Zhen
Editor: Gao Xiaochuan
