China’s Record Heat, Heavy Rain Threaten Food Security

China is grappling with extreme weather as severe drought and record temperatures scorch the north while heavy rains inundate the south, raising concerns about food security in the world’s second-largest economy, Edward Szekeres, Fred Hu, and Robert Shackelford reported for CNN.

Drought and heat have had an adverse impact on the planting season in some northern and central provinces.

Areas of the country that produce a lot of rice and wheat have been badly affected, disrupting spring and summer planting seasons.

The Ministry of Agriculture said recently that drought and heat have had an adverse impact on the planting season in some northern and central provinces, and it warned that temperatures were expected to surpass 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) in the coming days.

An emergency alert covering at least seven provinces, including the major agricultural regions of Henan and Shandong, was already in place because of dry, hot conditions.

“The recent persistently high temperatures have accelerated the loss of water in the soil and (caused) drought in some areas, which has negatively affected the summer sowing season,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The drought is likely to continue and the task of protecting the summer planting season is difficult.”

In Henan, China’s top wheat-producing region which accounts for a quarter of total output, rainfall in May was 70% lower than the yearly average, Yang Wentao, a provincial official, told national broadcaster CCTV.