PBA Reporter
China has announced, it will attempt to mitigate the impacts of the ongoing drought to its crops by using chemicals to generate rain.
Reportedly, this has been the hottest, driest summer in the country’s recorded history and has wilted crops and left reservoirs at half their normal water level.
The situation is the hottest, driest summer since the government began recording rainfall and temperature 61 years ago has wilted crops and left reservoirs at half their normal water level. Factories in Sichuan province were shut down last week to save power for homes as air conditioning demand surged, with temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Agriculture Minister, Tang Renjian said that the coming 10 days are a “key period of damage resistance” for southern China’s rice crop and authorities will take emergency steps to “ensure the autumn grain harvest,” which is 75% of China’s annual total.
These steps include an attempt to “try to increase rain” by seeding clouds with chemicals and spraying crops with a “water retaining agent” to limit evaporation, Tang’s ministry said on its website.
The disruption adds to challenges for the ruling Communist Party, which is trying to shore up sagging economic growth before a meeting in October or November when President Xi Jinping is expected to try to award himself a third five-year term as leader.
A smaller Chinese grain harvest would have a potential global impact. It would boost demand for imports, adding to upward pressure on inflation in the United States and Europe that is running at multi-decade highs.
Reports also say, two-thirds of Europe is threatened by what may be the worst drought there in 500 years. The latest report from the Global Drought Observatory says 47% of the continent is in “warning” conditions, meaning soil has dried up. Another 17% is on alert – meaning vegetation “shows signs of stress”.
With temperatures reaching 104º Fahrenheit (F) (40º Celsius (C)) and hotter, many crops have been damaged and compared with the average of the previous five years, EU forecasts for harvest are down 16% for grain maize, 15% for soybeans and 12% for sunflowers.
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