China's grain demand to rise by 20 mln tons over next 5 years
Beijing. January 28. INTERFAX-CHINA - China's appetite for grains will rise by four million tons each year between 2011 and 2015, the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) said Jan. 27.
Annual demand for cooking oil and meat will also grow by 800,000 tons and one million tons, respectively, over the same period, the MOA said, citing comments made by Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua at a Jan. 14 agricultural policy meeting in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.
China's central government will need to address worsening weather patterns, fierce global competition and limited farmland to ensure its food supply, Chen added.
China's grain harvest for 2010 totaled 546.41 million tons, up 2.9 percent year-on-year, while production of cooking oil and meat hit 39.2 million tons and 77.8 million tons, respectively.
- Li Xin