China to buy more grain abroad, shift farming focus

But the nation will remain self-sufficient in rice and wheat until 2020, says minister

China expects to increase its grain imports during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20) rather than continue to increase its farming capacity, according to Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu.

After increasing domestic grain production for the past 11 years, the country will, in what scientists see as a major shift, aim for stable output and quality products rather than ever-increasing domestic supplies, Han said in his report earlier this month.