During an inspection tour to Henan and Shandong provinces from April 21 to 22, Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua called for solid efforts to ensure summer grain production and restore hog production in order to achieve a good harvest and stable pork supply.

Hu is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

In the two major provinces of summer grain and hog production in China, Hu inspected Kaifeng city, Henan province, and Heze city and Jining city, Shandong province, to learn about the issues of summer grain production, pest control, hog production restoration and African swine fever prevention and control.

He also held in-depth talks with farmers, grass-roots cadres, scientific and technical personnel, and people in charge of local enterprises.

As the current economy is facing unprecedented challenges, grain and hog production are of great significance to ensure the safety of grain and major non-staple food, the vice-premier said.

He urged local governments to overcome the impact of COVID- 19, specify targets and responsibilities, and try to put all the policies and measures into effect.

Measures must be taken to strengthen field management of summer grain, reinforce the prevention and control of severe pest diseases, and promote joint prevention and control of summer grain, he said, urging work to prevent natural disasters for the growth of crop seedlings.

It is necessary to keep up the restoration of hog production by supporting farmers to scale up breeding, accelerate the construction of new, renovated pig farms, and increase the supply of breeding pigs through multiple channels.

Solid efforts must be made to prevent and control African swine fever, such as strengthening supervision work, to ensure early detection, reporting and disposal on the epidemic and prevent its spread.