Agricultural subsidies 'should be reconsidered'

China should reconsider policies that give heavy subsidies for grain products and agricultural applications such as pesticides and fertilizers, as the country is facing mounting pressure to deal with agricultural pollution, the director of an international food policy think tank says.

Fan Shenggen, director-general of the International Food Policy Research Institute, said the current subsidized agricultural structure will result in greater agricultural pollution and an imbalance in the country's agricultural production.

"The subsidies are spurring farmers to spend more on fertilizers and pesticides, which is piling heavy pressure on the rural environment," Fan said in an interview with China Daily.