DisastersSevere flooding in China destroys crops, food prices soar
China’s beleaguered farmers were dealt another blow as devastating floods inundated much of the country’s east, south, and southwest; the water has caused more than $5 billion in damage, displaced more than 1.6 million people, and killed at least 175 people; the floods have destroyed large portions of crops and will reduce vegetable yields by an estimated 20 percent in some areas; more than one million acres of crops have been destroyed across the country pushing grain and vegetable prices higher
Floodwaters overwhelm farmland and villages // Source: flashnewstoday.com
China’s beleaguered farmers were dealt another blow as devastating floods inundated much of the country’s east, south, and southwest.
Heavy rains that began earlier this month have led to severe flooding that is among the worst in decades in some areas. So far the deluge of water has caused more than $5 billion in damage, displaced more than 1.6 million people, and killed at least 175 people. The death toll is expected to rise as eight-six people have been reported missing. The floods have destroyed large portions of crops and will reduce vegetable yields by an estimated 20 percent in some areas.
More than one million acres of crops have been destroyed across the country pushing grain and vegetable prices higher.
Zhejiang, an eastern province, has been hit particularly hard with 597,000 acres of its arable land under water, roughly an eighth of the province’s total. At a market in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang, the price of fruits, vegetables, and grains have increased by an average of about 40 percent.
Overall China has been battling to control rising inflation that has been fueled in large part by the rising cost of food. Inflation is nearly at three year highs and in May the price of food had increased by nearly 12 percent compared to a year earlier.
Prior to the floods, Chinese farmers had been hit by one of the most severe droughts in more than fifty years, threatening grain production.
Government officials have insisted that the weather has not affected grain yields and that China is on track for an eighth consecutive year of record harvests, despite the severe drought and floods.
The long drought has affected more than thirty-five million people across five provinces and sparked international concerns that China will be forced to purchase large quantities of grain on the open market, sending already record prices even higher.
