Grain harvests 'can't be taken for granted'

China has seen a decade of growth in its grain harvests, but it needs to be more vigilant about the possibility of a weak harvest and improve the farming environment, said the country's top agricultural authority.

"Even though China had its 10th consecutive year of increased grain output in 2013, the government must take another round of decisive measures to curb farmland and water source contamination this year," said Chen Xiwen, deputy chief of the Central Rural Work Leading Group.

China is under pressure to fix its worsening farming environment, which has been affected by polluted soil and water, as well as the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides - for example, cadmium-contaminated rice was found in Hunan last year.

The declining quality of arable land amid extensive urbanization and industrialization means it has become difficult to sustain growth in grain output.

Chen said the future of the farm sector hinges on stronger efforts to prevent contamination of farmland and water sources. Environmental remediation, including the removal of heavy metal contamination in rural areas, will be the government's top priorities this year.

"To prevent toxic metals and other elements from entering the food chain, the government will encourage farmers to change the crops they plant on polluted farmland, reduce land pollution through scientific practices and enforce the proper treatment of industrial waste," Chen said.

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