Rain-hit county takes various measures to stabilize vegetable supply

Local authorities, farmers and vegetable dealers in Lanling County of Shandong Province, east China, are taking all necessary measures to ensure the stable production and market supply of vegetables after days of heavy rain.

Due to excessive rainfall, vegetables are at risk of plant diseases and pest infestations. The county's agricultural sector has sent agronomists to assist local farmers in mitigating these risks and preventing further losses.

"After the rain, vegetable facilities tend to be overly moist with high temperatures, which create favorable conditions for plant diseases and pest problems. Additionally, the rain-wash can slow the activity of roots, weakening their ability to absorb water and fertilizer," said Wang Hongying, a senior agronomist of the Lanling Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Fast transportation is also crucial for ensuring the vegetable market supply. As a major vegetable-producing area and a hub for regional vegetable transportation, the county's vegetable wholesale market is also coordinating efforts with farmers and dealers to streamline transportation logistics.

"Lanling's vegetable production is currently in a transitional phase between seasons. The market primarily deals in cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, towel gourds, and bitter melons. To stabilize market supply, we have expanded the vegetable procurement and stepped up distribution efforts, primarily sourcing chili peppers from Inner Mongolia and Shouguang City. This ensures that transporting trucks can be loaded and left as fast as possible. We are doing everything we can to ensure the vegetable supply," said Zhou Guiwen, head of the office at Lunan Vegetable Wholesale Market in Lanling Country.

Vegetable prices in China have recently risen due to adverse weather conditions. The measures taken in Lanling County are also part of China's nationwide efforts to stabilize vegetable production and supply, and curb further price increases. And the measures are showing results as Shandong's vegetable prices has gradually retreated.

Rain-hit county takes various measures to stabilize vegetable supply

The wildfires in the Pantanal wetlands, the world's largest tropical wetland, have raged the region since August, threatening the habitats of local wild lives there.

To fight the flames, a makeshift command post has been set up, bringing together nearly 100 firefighters, environmentalist and staff members from wildlife services.

According to a group of firefighters, they had to take a boat for approximately 40 minutes to reach a site across the river to put out the fire there, which started in early August but has reignited repeatedly afterwards.

Such recurring fire incidents are commonly seen during the dry season in the Pantanal wetlands over the past years.

Water levels decrease during the dry season and rise again in the rainy season in the Pantanal wetlands. Yet, the dry season has lengthened while the rainy season has shortened in recent years, with insufficient rainfall during the latter.

As a result, the upstream areas that are supposed to supply water to the wetlands are unable to provide adequate water now.

"The water supply to the wetlands has decreased, the time of water duration in the region is shorter. As a consequence, the wetlands dry out more quickly as the time they are exposed to the sun get longer, making it easier for these fires to get in," said William Assuncao, an analyst from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, who has been working on forest fire prevention since 2010.

Biologists said the fires in the Pantanal wetlands not only have directly cause the deaths of numerous animals, but also severely damaged their habitats.

"The hyacinth macaw primarily feeds on two types of fruits that come from two specific palm trees in the Pantanal region. Wildfires that destroy these fruits prevent the macaws from feeding. Additionally, the wildfire has also devastated their nests. These birds stay on some large trees, so when the fire passes and the trees fall, these macaws would lose their nests," said biologist Bruno Henrique Grossi Carvalho.

Rampant wildfires threaten eco-system in Brazil's Pantanal Wetlands