According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China has stepped up efforts to maintain production and supply of crops, vegetables, fruits, and livestock amid sweeping cold waves.
Following the issuance of detailed precautionary measures on crops and husbandry, the ministry dispatched working groups to provide on-site guidance to local authorities and farmers and launched the highest emergency response of the four-tier system for low-temperature rain, snow and freezing disasters in 18 provinces and municipalities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Guangdong and Chongqing.
Comprising experts in wheat, rapeseed, vegetables, fruit, and disaster prevention and mitigation, 25 working groups were dispatched to different regions to conduct on-site investigations, evaluate the development of impact and provide technical instructions.
In northern China, the ministry proposed to strengthen the classification management of winter wheat and implement graded irrigation for late-planted wheat seedlings to mitigate the impact of the cold weather. Farmers are advised to pay attention to the maintenance and reinforcement of greenhouses and animal shelters and conduct snow clearing in a timely manner.
In southern China, farmers are advised to implement protective measures against freezing and water logging for rapeseed, open-field vegetables and fruit trees. Also, efforts should be made to allocate and transport disaster relief seeds, fertilizers, fodder, vaccines and other production materials as needed.
According to the China Meteorological Administration, the impact of the heavy snowfall is approaching its end, but a strong cold wave accompanying the snow is moving north to south and affecting the central and eastern parts of China.