CRI听力：Food Security Should be a Government Priority

A report in the Beijing Youth Daily suggests that food security should be one of the top priorities on the government's agenda on a long-term basis, given the recent rare drought that has affected crops in the northern and central parts of China.

The report says a mood of blind optimism should not prevail among the public, although agricultural experts have said the nation's food reserves remain at stable levels.

The newspaper quotes a scientific report that indicates severe droughts might have occurred every three years in the country since the 1980s. The scientific study notes that most of the country's agricultural infrastructure is outdated, particularly in water conservation and irrigation facilities, both of which need more investment for upgrading.(www.hxen.net)

The newspaper article says the ongoing global financial crisis has forced some 20 million jobless migrant workers to leave cities and return to farmlands, adding more pressure for the government to alleviate unemployment.

The article says a modest rise in food prices would help boost the morale of a large number of farmers. It also suggests that more preferential policies are needed to create jobs and encourage farmers by increasing their income. This in turn would help ease concerns over food security in the long run.