China Vice Premier calls for action to secure autumn grain harvest

China’s Vice Premier has urged local authorities to minimize agricultural losses, and ensure a robust autumn grain harvest after heavy rains from Typhoon Gaemi lashed its largest wheat-growing Henan province.

Provinces such as central Henan have braced for severe rainstorm and floods recently after Typhoon Gaemi made a landfall in late July, which adversely impacted agricultural production.

During his visit to Henan, Liu Guozhong emphasized the critical need for disaster prevention and mitigation to protect the autumn grain crops and achieve a successful harvest, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.

He also called for enhanced efforts to promote grain and oil crop yields to bolster national food security, according to Xinhua.

Henan, known as China’s “granary,” produces about one-third of the country’s wheat. A reduced wheat harvest could lead China, the world’s largest wheat consumer, to seek additional supplies overseas.

China’s state grains stockpiler Sinograin said on Wednesday the firm and its subsidiaries will increase the scale of domestic wheat storage to support farmers.

Tags: China, grain, wheat, crop forecast