August 16, 2023

China raises concerns over crop and animal disease outbreaks in flood-affected regions

As floodwaters recede in rural northern China, warnings of potential crop and animal disease outbreaks emerge alongside the task of restoring drinking water supplies following severe flooding, the worst in over sixty years.

Hebei province, bordering Beijing, faced a deluge last week, caused by storms in the wake of Typhoon Doksuri. This affected autumn crops and agricultural equipment.

Tang Renjian, China’s Agriculture Minister, inspected affected areas, urging local authorities to prevent disease outbreaks resulting from dead animals, pests, and insects. He also emphasised the need to reduce waterlogging and drain floodwaters from fields to minimise crop loss and safeguard winter wheat planting.

Tang said that agricultural and rural departments should assess farmers' disaster situation, help them overcome practical challenges, and prevent disaster-induced poverty, in a statement on the ministry website.

In Zhuozhou, the area hardest hit in Hebei, workers sprayed disinfectant in populated areas to curb disease spread. Meanwhile, disrupted water pipes and wells in areas like Shijiazhuang left thousands without clean water.

The Ministry of Water Resources initiated an emergency response, establishing supply points and deploying water trucks to restore drinking water, a crucial move in the midst of this multifaceted recovery.

Even in Beijing, with a death toll of 33, a team of nearly 600 races to restore water supplies in a rural district, underscoring the urgency of recovery efforts.

-      Reuters