February 4, 2008

China moves to relieve provinces struck by snowstorm

China has moved to ensure agricultural supplies are available to provinces that are hit by heavy snow over the past few weeks.

The snowstorm has hit about seven million hectares of farmland, mainly in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which resulted in some of the farmlands losing all of its output.

The State Administration for Industry and Commence has issued an emergency notice to boost the supply of agricultural products by decreasing the operation fees of vendors in a bid to ease the lack of supplies.

Local authorities have opened government reserves, with southwestern Guizhou province releasing 510 tonnes of pork reserves.

Authorities are also monitoring price changes daily, and staff rotation have been arranged to handle emergencies at any time.

China's economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, said on Thursday (January 31, 2008) that price control measures have been implemented in all 31 provinces and municipalities to stabilize food prices.

The policy limits the price increase of daily food and necessities such as meat and eggs.

The ministry of agriculture said RM 100 million (US$13.9 million) has been earmarked for disaster relief, and agricultural experts have been sent to the disaster-stricken areas.