China is currently the world's top user of pesticides. The Asian nation has just 7% of the world's arable land, but stands for a third of global consumption of chemical fertilizer, with its per unit use 2.7 times higher than the world average.
However, sources say it aims to reduce their use in cultivation of fruit, vegetables and tea by a tenth within three years' time. High levels of chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used to produce crops on China's small, heavily-exploited plots, but overuse can degrade the soil and pollute water, while improper use can cause contamination and hurt biodiversity.
The Agriculture Ministry also wants to reduce pesticide use on rice, wheat and corn by 5% in the same period, and step up use of organic fertilizers by the same amount by 2025.
Source: reuters.com