Cabbages cost more than pork

The price of Chinese cabbages has risen about 70 percent in just three months. And in many regions of the country, a Chinese cabbage is now more expensive than one kilogram of pork. This has resulted in many complaints.However, people should face up to the fact that the days of cheap agricultural products are gone, says an article in Xinhua Daily Telegraph. Excerpts:

Before we complain, we should think about the farmers first. Over the past years, there have been some crazy price hikes for agricultural products, such as garlic, beans, ginger and pork. But it turned out that speculators were making the gains not the farmers. Moreover, if prices fall it is the farmers that are hit.

As we are experiencing inflation nowadays, the cost of farming has increased together with electricity, water, oil and labor costs. So it is normal for the prices of agricultural products to go up. It is also unrealistic to expect to buy cabbages or pork at the prices they were years ago when our incomes were much lower. Furthermore, compared with other prices, like housing prices, traveling expenses and education fees, agricultural products are still reasonable.

Some may blame food prices for the high inflation. But in the calculation of the Consumer Price Index, food accounts for only 34 percent. Therefore, it is unfair to blame food prices for inflation.

In 2011, the average income of city residents was still three times that of farmers, so the government needs to pay attention to farmers' interests. For example, by making sure that farmers gain from price rises and by minimizing their losses when prices fall. For low-income residents who cannot afford food, the government, rather than the farmers should help them with subsidies.

(China Daily 05/09/2012 page9)