China’s Next Five-Year Plan For Ag Exports Released

Avatar for Matt Hopkins By Scott C. Lucas|20 September 2006

In late August, China released details from the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), which calls for agricultural exports reaching US $38 billion by 2010 based on a 7% annual increase. Some highlights of the Plan include:

  • Increased Cotton Production.
    During the National Conference on Cotton Competitiveness in early Septemeber, Vice Minister of Agriculture Fang Xiaojian emphasized increasing cotton production competitiveness through science-based development strategies and rational distribution. The 11th Five-Year Plan forecasts that China’s total cotton production will reach 7 million metric tons (MMT) by 2010.
  • Floor price program established for Indica and Japonica rice.
    The Chinese State Grain Administration announced the implementation of a floor price program for Indica and Japonica rice in seven major producing provinces launching between mid-September 2006 and late February 2007. China’s Grain Reserve Corporation and provincial reserve companies will purchase Indica rice at US $180 and Japonica rice at US $187 per tonne.
  • Dairy production growing quickly.
    China’s total dairy production from January to June, 2006, reached 7.37 MMT, a 24% increase over the same period in 2005. Fluid milk production made the largest gain to 6.32 MMT, up 27% from the previous year.
  • Chongqing receives US $2.5 million for drought relief.
    The Chinese central government allocated US $2.5 million in funding for drought alleviation in southwest China. The central and municipal governments have already spent over US $27.8 million, while losses are estimated at US $816 million. Approximately 97% of the area’s cropland has been affected.
  • Vice Premier pushes for National Agriculture Survey
    Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged agriculture officials to prepare for the country’s second National Agriculture Survey in 2007. Liangyu emphasized that the survey will help central and local government officials to understand problems facing China’s rural areas as well as to identify effective solutions for building “the new socialist countryside.” The first National Agriculture Survey was conducted in 1997.