In Lanling County, Shandong Province, eastern China, local authorities, agriculturists, and vegetable dealers are implementing measures to maintain vegetable production and market supply following periods of heavy rainfall. The excessive rain has heightened the risk of plant diseases and pest infestations, prompting the deployment of agronomists to aid local farmers in combating these threats.
"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," explained Wang Hongying, a senior agronomist at the Lanling Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Efficient transportation is essential for sustaining the supply of vegetables to the market. Lanling County, a key vegetable production area and regional transportation hub, has its vegetable wholesale market collaborating with farmers and dealers to optimize 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," stated Zhou Guiwen, head of the office at Lunan Vegetable Wholesale Market.
Recent adverse weather conditions have led to an increase in vegetable prices across China. The initiatives in Lanling County are part of broader national efforts to ensure the stability of vegetable production and supply chains and to mitigate further price escalations. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit, as vegetable prices in Shandong show signs of stabilization.
Source: BastillePost