The relevant responsible person of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture has adjusted and improved the three subsidies for agriculture.

In order to actively and steadily promote the adjustment and improvement of agricultural subsidy policies, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture recently issued the "guidance on adjusting and improving the three Agricultural subsidy policies" (hereinafter referred to as the "guidance"). The reporter interviewed the relevant responsible persons of the two departments on issues related to the adjustment and improvement of agricultural subsidy policies.

Reporter: why is it necessary to make appropriate adjustments and improvements to the agricultural "three subsidies" policy?

Since 2004, the state has successively implemented three subsidy policies (hereinafter referred to as agricultural "three subsidies"), including subsidies for improved varieties of crops, direct subsidies for grain farmers and comprehensive subsidies for agricultural materials. The implementation of the policy has played a positive role in promoting grain production, increasing farmers' income and promoting the development of agriculture and rural areas. However, with the profound changes in the situation of agricultural and rural development, the effect of the agricultural "three subsidies" policy is decreasing, and the policy efficiency is gradually decreasing, which urgently needs to be adjusted and improved. In order to conscientiously implement the spirit of the third Plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and the No. 1 document of the Central Committee in recent years on perfecting the agricultural subsidy policy and reforming the agricultural subsidy system, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture have carried out in-depth investigation and research in view of the problems in the implementation of the current agricultural subsidy policy. on the basis of fully soliciting and extensively listening to the opinions of all parties, this paper puts forward suggestions for adjusting and improving the agricultural subsidy policy, with the consent of the State Council. It is decided to adjust and improve the policy of "three subsidies" in agriculture from 2015.

Adjusting and perfecting the policy of "three subsidies" in agriculture is an urgent need to change the mode of agricultural development. The cost of agricultural production in our country is high, and the benefit of growing grain is low. The main reason is that the mode of agricultural development is extensive and the management regulation is small. Subject to small-scale operation, whether it is the popularization and application of advanced scientific and technological achievements, the provision of financial services, the effective docking with the market, or the promotion of agricultural standardized production, the improvement of the quality of agricultural products, the increase of production efficiency, and the promotion of market competitiveness, have encountered great difficulties. Therefore, to speed up the transformation of the mode of agricultural development, strengthen the ability of food security, and build a national food security and agricultural ecological security system, there is an urgent need to adjust and improve the agricultural "three subsidies" policy. we will increase support for appropriate scale operation of grain and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

To adjust and improve the agricultural "three subsidies" policy is an urgent need to improve the effectiveness of the agricultural subsidy policy. In most places, the "three subsidies" for agriculture have evolved into income subsidies for farmers, and some farmers can get subsidies even if they do not grow grain or land. However, new types of operators, such as large grain growers, family farms and farmers' cooperatives, who are really engaged in grain production, are difficult to get subsidies in addition to their own contracted farmland. The role of the agricultural "three subsidies" policy in arousing the enthusiasm of growing grain and promoting grain production has been greatly reduced. Therefore, it is urgent to adjust and improve the agricultural "three subsidies" policy to enhance the directivity, accuracy and effectiveness of the agricultural "three subsidies", to increase the support for the appropriate scale operation of grain, and to improve the effectiveness of the agricultural "three subsidies" policy.

At the same time, adjusting and perfecting the current agricultural "three subsidies" policy will help China to follow the rules of the World Trade Organization and further increase its support to agriculture and rural areas through the "green box policy" measures.

Reporter: what basic principles should be followed to adjust and improve the agricultural "three subsidies" policy?

The purpose of this adjustment and improvement of the agricultural "three subsidies" policy is to improve the directivity, accuracy, and effectiveness of the policy, to improve policy effectiveness, and to promote the transformation of the mode of agricultural development on the premise that the state's overall support to farmers is not reduced. We will promote the appropriate scale operation of grain, promote the sustainable development of agriculture, and improve agricultural productivity and market competitiveness of agricultural products. The following principles need to be followed.

First, we should earnestly protect the basic interests of the broad masses of farmers. Protecting the basic interests of the broad masses of farmers is the bottom line that must be adhered to in adjusting and perfecting the agricultural subsidy policy and reforming the agricultural subsidy system. To maintain and realize the basic interests of the broad masses of farmers is the first principle that must be followed in adjusting and improving the agricultural subsidy policy and reforming the agricultural subsidy system.

The second is to strengthen support for appropriate scale operation of grain. Steadily increasing grain production capacity is the key to ensuring "basic self-sufficiency of grain and absolute safety of food rations" and an important measure to ensure national food security. Adjusting and perfecting the agricultural "three subsidies" policy and strengthening the orientation, accuracy and effectiveness of the agricultural "three subsidies" to promote the appropriate scale operation of grain are not only in line with the national interests, but also in the fundamental interests of the broad masses of the people. It will help to improve the comparative efficiency of grain production, arouse the enthusiasm of new operators and farmers to grow grain, and steadily improve the comprehensive grain production capacity in terms of both quantity and quality benefits.

Third, effectively promote the sustainable development of agriculture. At the present stage, China mainly relies on the high input of resource elements to achieve high-output agricultural development, which has caused great damage to agricultural resources and environment, the quality and safety of agricultural products is difficult to guarantee, and the development is not sustainable. Adjusting the policy direction of agricultural "three subsidies" and protecting cultivated land fertility are conducive to protecting China's limited and precious cultivated land resources, water resources and agricultural ecological environment, and realizing the sustainable development of agriculture.

The fourth is to maintain the continuity and stability of the subsidy policy. Adjusting and perfecting the agricultural "three subsidies" policy and reforming the agricultural subsidy system are related to the interests of the broad masses of farmers and the overall situation of agricultural and rural development, and we must actively and steadily maintain the continuity and stability of the policy. First of all, the total amount of agricultural "three subsidies" is only increasing, and the intensity of subsidies is not decreasing; secondly, we should conscientiously implement the requirements of the Central Committee's No. 1 document, and continue to implement the policies of comprehensive subsidies for agricultural materials, direct subsidies for grain farmers and subsidies for improved varieties of crops in 2015, except in the pilot areas. Third, select some counties and cities in some provinces to carry out the pilot reform of agricultural "three subsidies" and organically combine the top-level design with grass-roots exploration to ensure steady progress in the reform of agricultural subsidies.