How to protect crops and reduce losses before and after a typhoon makes landfall? A detailed guide to practical measures
Every summer and autumn, typhoons always bring strong winds and heavy rain to coastal and some inland areas, posing a considerable threat to agricultural production. Before a typhoon makes landfall, in addition to paying attention to wind strength and rainfall, secondary disasters such as debris flows and landslides in mountainous areas must not be overlooked either. Getting timely and accurate typhoon information and taking precautions in advance is the first step to reducing losses.
Where can you get typhoon and debris flow early warning information?
The most authoritative channels are the typhoon warnings and weather forecasts issued by local meteorological departments, which can be obtained through official websites, official Weibo and WeChat public accounts, television and radio, and mobile phone text messages. Growers in mountainous areas should also pay special attention to the meteorological risk warnings for geological disasters issued by natural resources and water conservancy departments. Once high-risk warnings for debris flows or landslides appear, they must heighten their vigilance. In addition, emergency broadcasts and WeChat group notices from townships and village committees are often very timely. Farmers are advised to follow these channels as part of their routine so they do not have to scramble for information only after a typhoon arrives.
Before a typhoon makes landfall, farmland should be prepared in these ways
First, clear ditches and drain water by dredging field ditches and canals in advance to prevent waterlogging after heavy rain. Second, reinforce facilities: for greenhouses and livestock and poultry sheds, check the film-pressing lines, upright posts, and roofs, reinforce what needs reinforcing, and if necessary remove the greenhouse film to reduce the wind-facing surface. Third, harvest and store early: for fruits and vegetables that are already ripe, harvest as much as possible in advance to reduce fallen and rotten fruit. Fourth, farmers raising livestock should check feed storage and the doors and windows of pens to prevent rainwater from backing up inside. Finally, a reminder to everyone: farmers who live or work near mountainsides, streams, or slopes should, upon receiving danger warnings, move to safe areas promptly according to local arrangements. The safety of people and property always comes first.
After the typhoon, seize the time to restore production
After the wind and rain, drain water first. Standing water in fields should be drained out as soon as possible; the longer crops remain flooded, the more severe the damage to their roots. After the water recedes, straighten lodged plants in time, wash mud off leaf surfaces, and apply a suitable amount of quick-acting fertilizer to help restore growth. High-temperature and high-humidity environments easily trigger various diseases, so prevention and control should be carried out in line with the guidance of local agricultural technology departments. Damaged facilities such as greenhouses and sheds should be repaired as soon as possible. Farmers enrolled in policy-based agricultural insurance should remember to report the case to the insurance company in time and keep on-site photos for loss assessment. In addition, mountainous areas should also guard against secondary disasters caused by soft soil after rain. Do not rush into the mountains to inspect; act only after confirming it is safe.
In short, the key to typhoon prevention and response lies in one word: "early" - early warning, early precautions, and early disaster relief and recovery. Pay more attention to official information on typhoons and geological disasters in normal times and put all measures in place ahead of time so that the losses caused by typhoons can be reduced to a minimum.