¡¡¡¡JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Representatives from the World Bank Monday urged the developed countries to cut their subsidies in agriculture, saying the subsidy element is a "major deterrent" to the development of all nations, especially the developing world.

¡¡¡¡Ian Johnson, World Bank vice president for sustainable development, made the remarks while outlining the World Bank's agenda of priorities for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which kicked off Monday morning.

¡¡¡¡Each year, 350 billion US dollars of taxpayer's money in the North are used as subsidies for agriculture, "preventing the Southfrom meeting its own obligations of agriculture," he told reporters at a WSSD news briefing.

¡¡¡¡"The subsidy element is certainly a barrier," Johnson said.

¡¡¡¡Market access and agriculture subsidy are among the most controversial issues to be discussed at the Johannesburg summit, and some have urged the World Bank to play a more active role.

¡¡¡¡Although the World Bank didn't act as strongly against subsidies as it should have done, Johnson said that there have already been some changes.

¡¡¡¡"We have set up a trade department at the bank", he said, adding "We are trying to really understand the impact of the 350 billion US dollars subsides." Enditem

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