China warns floods could aggravate crop diseases
China called on Wednesday for more measures to protect its crops after warning that the recent floods in its grain-producing northeast region could worsen diseases and infestations. So far, diseases and pest infestations were "relatively light" with no significant impact on the autumn grain production, the agricultural ministry said in a statement, adding that the flooding "may exacerbate the prevalence" of diseases that affect corn, rice and soybeans. The nation was inundated with heavy rain and flooding in northern and northeastern regions in recent weeks brought by storms from Typhoons Doksuri and Khanun. The extreme weather may lead to severe pest infestations that target cotton, corn and soybean in some areas, the ministry said. For example, the northern armyworm has been found in 9066.7 hectares in Keyou Middle Banner, Xingan League, Inner Mongolia, of which an area of 1333.3 hectares was severely affected, it added. The ministry held a meeting in northeastern Heilongjiang province on Tuesday to discuss prevention and control of major autumn grain diseases and pests in the region, known as China's "great northern granary". The rains have affected 258,000 hectares, almost two percent, of the sown area in Heilongjiang, China's largest grain producing province, state broadcaster reported last week. On Monday, China's vice premier Liu Guozhong said damaged farmland, water conservation and other infrastructure needed to be quickly repaired to ensure a speedy recovery in grain production, state media reported. (Reuters)