News in brief: China has allocated $60 million in flood relief funds to aid agricultural output affected by recent heavy rainfall in eight provinces. The funds will support replanting crops in flooded areas and help resume agricultural production amid concerns of potential pests and crop diseases outbreaks.
China has allocated $60 million in flood relief funds to support agricultural output affected by heavy rainfall in eight provinces, a Reuters report says.
The media outlet cites a Chinese Agriculture Ministry announcement which also stated that the funds are for replanting crops in flooded areas and purchasing goods to resume agricultural production.
Severe flooding occasioned by typhoon Doksuri hit northern China recently, causing major flooding in cities and rural areas. Farmlands in parts of China like Southern Hebei, northern Henan and western Shandong provinces have been waterlogged, and is expected to expand in coming days.
The ministry further warned about pests and crop diseases outbreaks in the aftermath of the typhoon induced rainstorm. It says the situation could affect rice, corn and soybeans production in southern and northern China.
With unfavourable weather conditions anticipated, the Chinese ministry adds that it is challenging to prevent agricultural disasters.
Typhoon Doksuri, one of the strongest storms to hit the country in years, soaked northern China. It made landfall in the country on Friday 28 July, bringing down power lines and uprooting trees. It directly affected around 880,000 people in coastal Fujian with more than 354,400 people evacuated and resettled.
The Typhoon also devastated parts of Philippines and Taiwan. Analysts estimate the damage caused by the Typhoon to be in the region of $67 million in direct economic losses.
