Subsidies essential to ensure farmers grow grain

A farmer ties wheat that has been harvested in Shibapan village in Luoyang city, Henan province, June 3, 2015. [Photo/IC]

China's grain output was 621 million tons last year, the 12th consecutive year the country's grain yield increased. That is good news. But the government should not neglect the problems that exist behind the remarkable growth, Beijing Youth Daily said on Wednesday:

China's grain yield has increased 30 percent over the past 12 years. Yet, 20 percent of the growth is the result of technological progress and the use of chemical fertilizers, and the remainder from the willingness of farmers to grow grain because of the incentive of government subsidies.

The voices calling for abolishing grain subsidies at home and increasing grain imports are louder than ever before.

But policymakers should be clearheaded that farmers may not choose to grow grain anymore if they don't receive subsidies, which means the country would have to rely on imports which poses a risk to the nation's food security.

China's 621 million tons of grain can meet 98 percent of its domestic needs. Every year, about 300 million tons of grain is traded in the world. And there are still more than 70 countries suffering from hunger. If China increases its grain imports, it will probably stimulate higher global grain prices and make the conditions in these countries even worse.

Many developed countries and regions subsidize their farmers to ensure grain self-sufficiency. China should follow suit while modernizing its agriculture.