Prices of wheat and corn are rising sharply in the world’s most populous country, raising fresh questions about whether China’s food supply is truly safe amid a rising dependence on grain imports, shrinking arable land and disruptions caused by natural disasters.
According to the South China Morning Post, the latest evidence came via a decline in the state purchase of summer harvests of wheat –- an important grain for Chinese households.
According to data released by China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration (NFSRA), China’s state grain reserve system purchased 41 million tonnes (45 million short tons) of fresh wheat from June 1 to July 31, a drop of 17.2 per cent from a year ago.
Industry insiders said that many farmers have decided to hoard grains -– instead of selling them to the government –- as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
