China Mobilizes Disaster Prevention Efforts to Protect Autumn Grain Harvest

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has instructed agricultural authorities and local governments across the country to step up disaster prevention and field management to secure a bumper autumn grain harvest. Speaking at a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs video dispatch meeting following a field visit to Hebei province, Liu stressed that autumn grain accounts for the bulk of national annual output and is currently in its decisive yield-formation phase. Key directives include rolling out early weather warnings, deploying targeted technical assistance, expanding grain drying capacity, and reinforcing rural support to prevent disaster-induced poverty.

Autumn grain constitutes the dominant share of China's annual food supply, making this seasonal harvest crucial for national food security and domestic price stability. Extreme weather events, ranging from localized flooding and typhoons to sudden droughts and pest outbreaks, present elevated operational risks in late summer and early autumn. By coordinating central ministries and provincial leaders during the critical yield formation window, Beijing aims to minimize climate-related crop losses and ensure national harvest targets are met.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has urged agricultural authorities and regional governments to reinforce disaster prevention measures and fine-tune crop management to guarantee a solid annual harvest, according to state media reports. Addressing a video dispatch meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Liu noted that autumn grain constitutes the vast majority of China's total annual grain production and has entered its critical yield-formation period. He called for strict implementation of central directives to seize the initiative in autumn production and secure national output goals. Liu instructed officials to maintain close monitoring of rainfall, flood conditions, soil moisture, crop growth, and pest infestations. Early warning information must be released promptly alongside targeted technical guidance. Field management should be conducted on a differentiated and regional basis, with local authorities quickly organizing comprehensive spraying operations—often known as "one spray, multiple promotions"—to stabilize and boost crop yields. Highlighting the need for front-loaded risk prevention, the Vice Premier urged agricultural bodies to brace for late-season meteorological hazards and plant diseases. Measures should include expanding mechanical grain drying capacity to mitigate potential losses during and after harvest. Authorities were also instructed to provide immediate support to rural households exposed to risks of falling back into poverty due to natural disasters. Longer-term infrastructure resilience was another focus of the meeting. Liu called for continuous maintenance of farmland drainage ditches, effective waterlogging management in plain areas, prompt post-disaster replanting where needed, and high-quality development of high-standard farmland. Underlining the institutional framework of joint Party and government accountability for food security, Liu demanded close interdepartmental coordination to ensure policies and resources reach the ground effectively. Prior to the meeting, Liu conducted a field inspection in Hebei province to examine autumn crop development, high-standard farmland projects, agricultural supply distribution, and meteorological services for farming communities.