Hurdles have to be removed for nation's food security

The No 1 Central Document once again highlights the importance of modernizing agriculture. But many obstacles have to be overcome before agriculture can be truly modernized.

Since the costs of many agricultural products are higher in China than in overseas markets, imports are preventing the optimum consumption of domestic products. Confounding this problem is the continuous rise in the costs of raw materials and labor.

Wasteful production methods are aggravating the problem of resource shortages; excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is contaminating soil and water, compromising the quality of arable land; and underground water tables are being depleted quickly because of unrestricted use of water.