Drought-relief plan in South of China for autumn harvest underway

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Aug 2022 19:51

Autumn grain harvest accounts for 75 percent of the annual grain production in China.

Gan Bingdong walks through vegetable plots at his farm in Longquan village in southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

China's agricultural authorities will implement key technical measures to ensure autumn grain harvest, amid fermenting drought in the south of the country, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said during a national meeting on Friday aimed at coordinating drought-relief work for agricultural production in the south.

Autumn grain harvest accounts for 75 percent of the annual grain production in China, industry experts said.

According to the meeting, since July, the country's southern region has continuously suffered high temperatures and has recorded the highest number of days with high temperatures, the biggest areas with 40 degrees Celsius and above, and the least amount of rainfall since 1961, which has brought serious challenges to autumn grain production.

Experts noted that although seasonal disasters including heat waves and droughts may affect the normal growth of some autumn crops, the country's autumn grain harvest won't be changed.

"The next 10 days is a period of concentrated tasseling of mid-season rice in the southern region, as well as a key period of damage resistance and reduction," Tang Renjian, minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said during the meeting on Friday.

China's national observatory on Saturday issued an orange alert for drought across many southern regions including Chongqing, Hunan, and most parts of Sichuan. In the next three days, most of the above-mentioned areas may maintain high temperatures and little rain, and the drought could continue to develop.

"The key to achieving a full-year harvest of food depends on the autumn grain, which accounts for 75 percent of annual grain production," Jiao Shanwei, editor-in-chief of industry news website cngrain.com, told the Global Times on Saturday.

High temperatures may affect yields of some crops like mid-season crops, but it will not affect the overall autumn grain harvest, Jiao said, noting that the bulk of China's southern region enjoys abundant water sources, thus less rain will not have a big impact on crop irrigation.

The ministry noted that local governments should continue to spray drought-resistant and water-retaining agent in areas lacking irrigation and watering conditions. For the more severely affected areas, localities should harvest early and develop regenerated rice or late-autumn crops.

So far, the drought has affected 12.32 million mu (821,333 hectares) of farmland in six provinces and municipalities, including Southwest China's Sichuan and Chongqing.

China's Ministry of Water Resources said on Wednesday that it plans to replenish 1.48 billion cubic meters of water downstream of the Yangtze River, in order to ensure the safety of drinking water for residents in the dry areas and ensure water supply for the irrigation of autumn crops.

The Ministry of Emergency Management on Friday transferred anti-drought supplies and equipment worth 11.67 million yuan ($1.7 million) to Chongqing, including 170 sets of water pumps and 60 units of sprinkler irrigation.

The climate crisis has triggered a global food crisis. According to the WFP, 345 million people are facing acute food insecurity in 82 countries from 135 million in 53 countries pre-pandemic.

Fuelled by conflict, climate shocks, and COVID-19, the crisis is further worsening as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine drives up the costs of food, fuel, and fertilizers.

Yesterday, the WFP reported that 22 million are at risk of facing starvation in the Horn of Africa due to four failed rainy seasons that have killed millions of livestock and destroyed crops.

The establishment of a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) is meant to alleviate the food crisis by ensuring the safe flow of grains from Ukraine's ports.

However, earlier today, Sevastopol Governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that Russia's Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters was attacked by a drone with no casualties reported.

Following this event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Russian fertilizers and agricultural products must be able to reach world markets "unimpeded" or a global food crisis could strike as early as next year.