June 10, 2008

China moves for swift grain harvest amid heavy rains

China's Ministry of Agriculture ordered for swift reaping of grain as heavy rains hamper the critical yearly harvest in the southern regions.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) said that the heavy rain, which is 30 to 70 percent more than the same period last year, would sweep most parts of South China in the next 10 days.

The protection efforts will focus on wheat and paddy rice, the ministry said.

The government has ordered for riverways and conduits to be cleared and drained promptly.

Summer grain usually takes up about 23 percent of the China's annual grain output.

Torrential rain began to pound on South China at the end of last month, threatening the harvesting efforts.

The NMC on Saturday (June 7, 2008) launched a level-three emergency response to cope with expected rainstorms in the southern provinces.