June 5, 2023

More heavy rains pose challenges for China's wheat harvest in Henan province

China's largest wheat-growing province, Henan, is bracing for more rain in the coming days, according to state weather forecasters, AsiaOne reported.

The continuous rainfall complicates the task of harvesting grain that has been damaged by abnormally heavy precipitation at the end of May.

Referred to as the "granary of China," southern Henan experienced higher-than-normal rainfall in the final week of May, just before the winter-planted wheat was due to be harvested. These rains have resulted in sprouting and blight affecting a portion of the grain.

Chinese national weather forecasters have predicted medium to heavy precipitation in southern Henan on Saturday, further exacerbating the situation.

China heavily relies on winter wheat, which contributes the majority of the country's annual wheat output. This year, China anticipated a bumper crop.

China's Ministry of Agriculture urged local authorities to dispatch emergency teams to drain water from fields, expedite access for harvesters, and mobilize drying machinery to salvage as much of the crop as possible.

While China, including crucial grain-growing provinces like Henan, has experienced floods and droughts before, abnormal weather patterns like excessive rainfall still pose a risk to vital crops and can impact supplies.

The recent heavy rainfall during the wheat ripening period is the worst to occur in the past decade, as stated by the Henan provincial agricultural department to state media. The adverse effects have been felt across all 17 cities in the province, particularly in Zhumadian and Nanyang provinces.

-      AsiaOne