Heilongjiang: Ensuring Purchase Guarantees to Protect Farmers' Enthusiasm for Growing Grain

This article is reprinted from: Farmers Daily

Farmers Daily All Media Reporter: Yue Haixing

News from: Heilongjiang Grain and Material Reserve Bureau

Recently, the reporter learned from the Heilongjiang Provincial Grain and Material Reserve Bureau that Heilongjiang Province has earnestly implemented the national minimum purchase price policy for rice (referred to as the minimum purchase). From November 5, 2025, to February 28, 2026, a total of 7.34 billion jin of minimum purchase rice has been acquired.

In recent years, the Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau has followed the requirements of the national grain storage system reform, consistently adhering to a market-oriented approach, and taking multiple measures to promote more rice into the market for circulation. For example, in the past three years, Heilongjiang’s annual rice production has been around 50 billion jin, with minimum purchase volumes of 5.72 billion jin, 10.83 billion jin, and 7.34 billion jin respectively. More farmers’ grain is entering the market rather than storage, allowing farmers to earn better income and effectively protecting their enthusiasm for growing grain.

Strengthening Market-Based Purchase and Sale. The Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau has fully seized the favorable opportunity of a market rebound and active procurement by sales regions, deepening production-sales cooperation, guiding processing enterprises to increase inventory, and carefully organizing market-oriented acquisitions. As of March 15, the total market-based purchase of rice by registered enterprises reached 41.4 billion jin, an increase of 5.05 billion jin year-on-year. Meanwhile, this has further stabilized and increased grain prices. According to monitoring, the average price of ordinary long-grain rice is 1.56 yuan per jin, up 0.12 yuan from the previous year; the average price of ordinary round-grain rice is 1.34 yuan per jin, up 0.02 yuan. This year, Heilongjiang’s minimum purchase rice volume is 16.48 billion jin less than the average of the past ten years. Estimating an additional 0.03 yuan per jin sold, this has increased farmers’ income by about 490 million yuan. Additionally, due to fewer rice purchases under the minimum purchase policy, the national fiscal expenditure on procurement costs, interest, storage fees, etc., has decreased by approximately 1.4 billion yuan.

Strengthening Policy Support. In accordance with the latest requirements of the national “Minimum Purchase Price Implementation Plan for Wheat and Rice (2025 Edition),” the Heilongjiang Development and Reform Commission, together with the Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau, organized daily monitoring of rice prices during the implementation period. They conducted comprehensive assessments and, when conditions were met, promptly applied to the national authorities to activate the plan. The National Grain Reserve Bureau approved the plan on the same day of application (November 4, 2025), allowing the minimum purchase policy to be implemented in eligible areas of Heilongjiang starting November 5, 2025. This helped stabilize the market, boost farmers’ confidence, and expand sales channels. The Heilongjiang branch of China Grain Reserves Corporation announced the first batch of leased warehouses at the end of October 2025, totaling five batches with 107 warehouse sites and a capacity of 14.69 billion jin, effectively meeting farmers’ grain sales needs. The Heilongjiang branch of the Agricultural Development Bank issued loans totaling 10.114 billion yuan, ensuring timely and sufficient funding for minimum purchase rice.

Enhancing Service to Farmers. The Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau, together with the Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau, China Grain Reserves Corporation Heilongjiang Branch, and Heilongjiang Provincial Branch of the Agricultural Development Bank, issued the “2025 Heilongjiang Province Minimum Purchase Price Policy for Japonica Rice Promotion Outline.” They organized a policy interpretation video conference with over 700 frontline personnel, coordinated at provincial, city, and county levels to promote policy understanding, focusing on quality and price standards, purchase procedures, and deadlines, so farmers can sell their grain with confidence and at appropriate prices. The China Grain Reserves Heilongjiang Branch promoted appointment-based purchases in a steady and orderly manner, providing on-site guidance for farmers unloading grain. Promotional videos explaining the purchase process were played at storage sites, helping farmers queue less and sell quickly. They implemented requirements such as price listing, standards posted on walls, and samples displayed, prepared rest areas for farmers, and extended purchase hours by opening early and closing late based on grain sales, ensuring farmers sell “transparent grain,” “comfortable grain,” and “warm-hearted grain.”

Strengthening Whole-Chain Supervision. The Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau conscientiously implements the collaborative supervision responsibilities for minimum purchase, taking proactive and active measures. They work with the Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau to focus on problem prevention at the source, maintaining order during procurement, and ensuring policy compliance and smooth sales for farmers. The provincial grain reserve bureau established an information-based supervision office, issued the “Guidelines for the Information Supervision and Inspection of Policy Grain Storage Enterprises in Heilongjiang Province,” and adopted biweekly online scheduling. Using the “Digital Long Grain” supervision service system, they conducted “online” spot checks at 83 leased storage sites involved in purchases, promptly identifying and addressing risks. This effectively achieved comprehensive, transparent supervision over all links of policy grain storage, purchase, and sale. The provincial grain reserve bureau and Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau also innovated by establishing a resident inspector system, dispatching at least one inspector to each storage site to ensure full coverage of minimum purchase, continuous presence, and effective communication channels for dispute resolution. They implemented a “first inquiry responsible” system to resolve issues promptly, preventing conflicts at the source and resolving them at the grassroots level.

Next steps, the Heilongjiang Grain Reserve Bureau will continue to consolidate the positive momentum of rice procurement during this period, closely monitor the quantity and distribution of farmers’ grain awaiting sale, track the progress of rice stock sales, market purchase and sale trends, and price movements. They will guide farmers to sell their grain reasonably and in an orderly manner, and ensure the completion of rice procurement and sales.