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.