The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) has released the 2025 list of central government agricultural subsidies, offering key support to farmers and agricultural producers across the country. This comprehensive policy aims to promote both food security and environmental sustainability in agriculture. It includes various measures that address the pressing needs of farmers, from increasing productivity to preserving natural resources. The subsidies aim to incentivize modern farming practices, technological innovations, and more environmentally-friendly practices.
Key subsidy categories for 2025
- Farmland soil protection subsidy
Aimed at farmers with land-use rights, this subsidy is focused on maintaining farmland in active agricultural use and protect soil health. It marks a shift from traditional production-based support to area-based incentives. - Agricultural machinery subsidy
Focused on improving farming efficiency, this subsidy supports the purchase of high-performance machinery, such as seeders and harvesters. It covers various essential equipment that boosts yields for key crops like grains and oilseeds. - “One spray, three prevention” subsidy for wheat
This subsidy supports the use of pesticides and other treatments to protect wheat crops, aimed at preventing pests, diseases, and excessive weed growth. By improving pest control efficiency, this subsidy helps reduce the overall use of pesticides. - Soybean-corn intercropping subsidy
Designed to support the practice of intercropping soybeans and corn, this subsidy encourages more efficient land use and sustainable crop production. - Corn and soybean subsidy
Continuing the support for key crops in northeast China, this subsidy provides assistance for producers of corn and soybeans, critical to national food security goals, ensuring stable income for farmers in these regions. - Rice subsidy
This subsidy targets rice producers, especially in the main rice-producing provinces. It aims to sustain the production of this staple crop, which is vital for food security and a key part of China’s agricultural output. - Crop rotation and fallowing subsidy
Focused on promoting the sustainable use of agricultural resources, this subsidy supports the practice of crop rotation and fallowing, particularly in regions like northeast China. Amongst others, it supports pilot fallowing projects in areas suffering from groundwater overuse - Agricultural services subsidy
Aimed at agricultural cooperatives, family farms, and other service providers, this subsidy promotes the use of specialized services for crop production, with a focus on high-yield and high-quality crops. The goal is to improve the efficiency and productivity of the agricultural sector through professional service offerings. - Grassland grazing ban and grassland-livestock balance subsidy
In regions with grazing pressure, this subsidy supports the implementation of grazing bans and promotes a balance between grassland resources and livestock numbers. It is aimed at ensuring sustainable land use and reducing the negative environmental impact of overgrazing.
Strategic priorities
The 2025 agricultural subsidies reflect two main strategic priorities: enhancing productivity and promoting environmental sustainability. A large portion of the subsidies targets increased yields through technological innovation and improved farming practices, such as the support for agricultural machinery and the promotion of specific crop production strategies.
At the same time, the policy also emphasizes environmental sustainability, with subsidies aimed at soil preservation, reducing pesticide use, and promoting sustainable land management practices like crop rotation and grazing bans.
Shift in subsidy structure
A notable shift in this new subsidy list is the change in how subsidies are distributed. Traditionally, China’s agricultural subsidies have been largely output-based, focusing on minimum purchasing prices for key crops. In contrast, several of the 2025 subsidies are now area-based, as seen with the farmland soil protection subsidy, which rewards individual farmers based on the area they farm.
Additionally, subsidies for agricultural insurance are a new feature, offering a safety net for farmers against risks such as crop failure or extreme weather events. This combination of area-based support and risk management strategies marks a significant evolution in China’s agricultural subsidy policy, aligning with long-term sustainability goals.
