China is currently grappling with a dual onslaught of scorching heat waves and torrential rains, resulting in a painful loss of animal and fish life due to the unprecedented weather conditions.
The country, being plagued by its worst-ever heatwave and drought, is raising concerns about the global food security in the world’s second-largest economy. As reported by CNN, pigs, rabbits, and fish have fallen victim to the sweltering temperatures, while the most substantial rainfall has engulfed central China’s wheat fields in a decade.
In one instance, hundreds of pigs tragically perished at an eastern Jiangsu province farm due to a power outage that caused the ventilation fans to cease functioning during the night. According to local reports, the suffocation of these pigs was primarily attributed to the extreme heat and insufficient air circulation.
Additionally, the heatwave has devastatingly wiped out extensively farmed carp populations in rice fields in the southwestern Guangxi region. Authorities are also deeply concerned about the potential drought impact on the Yangtze River basin, which happens to be China’s primary rice-growing region, in the forthcoming months.
Sheng Xia, an agricultural analyst, emphasized in a research report that “extreme weather such as drought and floods may disrupt the food production order and bring more uncertainties to the supply of food and oil.”
The repercussions of the heatwave have reverberated even in culinary traditions. The prices of rabbit heads, a signature delicacy in Sichuan province, have surged in recent days due to the unfortunate demise of rabbits on farms caused by the record-breaking temperatures.
Weather forecasts indicate that southern China is bracing for temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, with certain areas expected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius. Since March, numerous Chinese cities have experienced record seasonal highs, with Shanghai enduring its hottest May day in over a century.
The southern provinces have remained engulfed in relentless heatwaves, while Yunnan and Sichuan provinces have encountered scorching temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius.
Adding to the predicament, the El Niño event could further exacerbate climate uncertainty, potentially leading to floods in the south, drought in the north, and an unusually cold summer in the northeast.
In a devastating blow to the agricultural sector, heavy rainfall inundated Henan province’s wheat fields just days before the scheduled harvest time. Henan accounts for a quarter of China’s overall wheat production, and the deluge resulted in the sprouting and mold infestation of certain grain crops, amounting to a significant loss of approximately 20% of some farmers’ annual yields.
In light of last year’s severe heatwaves and drought, Beijing has intensified its focus on food security. In March, Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized agriculture as the foundation of national security.
Scientists warn that extreme heat and humidity are intensifying worldwide, posing a severe threat to millions of lives and economies, particularly in regions where outdoor work could prove fatally hazardous.
Source: CNN
