China’s heatwaves stoke drought fears ahead of ‘critical’ autumn grain harvest

The country’s meteorological service has warned of more extreme weather including droughts and flooding

Chinese authorities have pledged a host of disaster-relief measures to ensure a strong autumn grain harvest

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With the autumn grain harvest on the horizon, Chinese authorities are on high alert for the likelihood of more extreme weather events. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00pm, 17 Aug 2022Updated: 2:32pm, 23 Aug 2022

Chinese authorities are making disaster-relief preparations to ensure a strong autumn grain harvest amid warnings of more droughts and flooding across the country.

Parts of southern China have been gripped by heatwaves and drought in recent months, with water levels in the country’s largest river and its two biggest freshwater lakes at record lows.

The China Meteorological Administration has said the drought conditions are set to continue and also warned about the danger of flooding, which typically occurs during summer.

With the all-important autumn grain harvest on the horizon, Chinese authorities are on high alert for the likelihood of more extreme weather events.

August and September are critical periods for the formation of autumn grain production

Fu Linghui

“August and September are critical periods for the formation of autumn grain production, so close attention should be paid to the impact of natural disasters and pests on grain production,” said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics.

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