Inside China Today

Adverse weather causing havoc to China’s Economy

Amidst the doom and gloom of the global economic crisis, many of China’s rural areas are also suffering from adverse weather conditions raging from severe floods in southern China to sand storms and drought in northern China. The economy and food prices will likely be affected by these disasters as it did in previous years.

Starting in mid-April, eastern and central China had the heaviest precipitation of the year. Many areas suffered from flooding and landslides. According to data released at the end of April, in Guangdong Province alone, flood damage caused direct financial losses of US$3.51 million. Over 1,560 hectares of farmland was flooded, leaving it nonproductive for the foreseeable future.

Jiangxi province, located on the south side of the Yangtze River, suffered economic losses exceeding 65 million yuan (approximately US$ 9.5 million), and 19,900 hectares (about 49,174 acres) of farmland was flooded.

Meanwhile, northern China is experiencing their most severe drought in 60 years. Currently, it has affected 15 provinces and their cities, accounting for 96 percent of the nation’s winter wheat producing region.

In the northern province of Shanxi, 56.6 percent of the region’s wheat production suffers from drought, and 33 percent suffers from a severe drought.

In northwest China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region, sand storms struck during the pollination season, especially hitting hard this large cotton-producing region. Fruit trees suffered damage, and the sand covered the grazing ranges, causing the loss of cattle and other grazing animals. Sand storms also hit other parts of China, including Gansu and Inner Mongolia.

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