Han Changfu Stresses During Inspection Tour in Liaoning: Persist in Drought Relief and Scientific Drought Relief with All-Out
On August 17, Han Changfu, Minister of Agriculture, stressed during an inspection tour guiding drought relief work in Liaoning that currently the drought signs in Northeast China are diverse, the drought situation is complex, and there are many unpredictable factors in the future. Agricultural departments at all levels must resolutely implement the instructions of the central leadership, firmly establish the thought of fighting disasters to ensure a bumper harvest, continue to intensify disaster relief efforts, resolutely fight drought where there is drought, carry out scientific drought relief, strengthen field management where there is no drought, implement measures to promote early maturity and prevent frost as early as possible, and go all out to secure a good autumn grain harvest.
While the drought in parts of the Huang-Huai and Northwest regions has eased somewhat, the drought in parts of Northeast China has developed relatively quickly, causing a certain impact on grain production. Han Changfu was very concerned about this and made a special trip to some counties and cities in Chaoyang City, Fuxin City and Shenyang City. He walked into corn fields and affected plots, talked carefully with grassroots officials, agricultural technicians and farmers, and learned about the development of the drought, the results of drought relief and the growth of corn. He fully affirmed the practice of various parts of Liaoning Province in taking the initiative under the leadership of the provincial party committee and provincial government, actively adopting measures and going all out for drought relief.
Early in the morning, Han Changfu rushed to Dasanjia Village and Sanjia Village in Dasanjia Township, Beipiao City, Chaoyang, to learn about the drought. In Dasanjia Village, a patch of corn had already turned from green to dry yellow because of the drought and faced total crop failure. In nearby Sanjia Village, however, because water-saving irrigation was well implemented, the corn grew better than in an ordinary year. Han Changfu walked into the cornfield to inspect on site the development of the drought in the affected plots and learn about the growth of corn in the water-saving irrigation plots. Han Changfu pointed out that classified guidance should be strengthened. For plots with irrigation conditions and where irrigation is effective, every possible effort should be made to irrigate as much as possible to ensure these plots have a harvest; for plots without irrigation conditions, other crops should be replanted as much as possible where possible, and for those that cannot be replanted, production plans for next year should be made early. We must seriously learn the lessons of the drought, resolve to speed up the construction of a number of high-standard farmland areas that guarantee harvests despite drought or excessive rain, vigorously promote water-saving irrigation technology, and both actively avoid disasters and improve the ability to resist natural disasters, so as to promote the stable development of grain production.
⟦NL> Afterward, Han Changfu drove on to Fuxin Mongol Autonomous County in Fuxin City. Along the way, the drought signs in corn and peanuts in fields lacking irrigation conditions were severe; some corn leaves had already wilted and curled, and some had already lost their green color. Han Changfu came to Taben Town, where corn on a slope had already dried up, and the leaves crackled when pinched by hand; some corn had not had time to fill grain and had already become shriveled. Han Changfu encouraged local officials and people, saying that even if crops fail, people still plant every year; what is feared is not a single disaster year but consecutive years of disaster. Everyone should strengthen confidence. This year, for plots with total crop failure, post-disaster insurance claims should be carried out promptly, and surplus labor should be transferred to employment as quickly as possible, striving to ensure that farmers' incomes do not decrease in a disaster year. At the same time, the planting structure should be adjusted according to local conditions, the integration of agriculture and animal husbandry should be done well, agricultural efficiency should be improved, and sustainable development should be achieved. In the high-yield corn demonstration plot in Taoli Village, Fuxin Town, the corn, taller than a person, grew encouragingly. Zhang Lei, head of the Senmao Agricultural Machinery Cooperative in Fumeng County, told Han Changfu that because water-saving irrigation in the demonstration plot was well implemented, this year's corn growth was better than last year's, and if there was no major disaster later, the yield should be higher than last year's. Han Changfu was very pleased and urged him to rely on the demonstration project, do a good job in building high-standard farmland, and lead the people to increase production and income.
Along the way, Han Changfu and local government officials studied how to strengthen high-standard farmland construction and accelerate the development of water-saving agriculture. In the high-yield corn creation demonstration plot in Yujiawopu Township, Xinmin County, Shenyang City, Han Changfu casually broke off an ear of corn to inspect it; the ear was full of kernels, the kernels had begun to firm up, and by rough estimate the net weight was about half a jin. Han Changfu stressed that guidance and services should continue to be strengthened, the favorable opportunity of rainfall should be seized, field management should be done well, growth and development should be promoted, pest and disease prevention and control should be effectively strengthened, and measures to promote early maturity and prevent frost should be implemented to ensure that autumn grain matures safely, strive to reduce production losses in drought areas and increase production more in non-drought areas.
Bi Meijia, Chief Economist of the Ministry of Agriculture, participated in the inspection tour.