China: earthquake crop damage estimated
Date:05-20-2008
The earthquake that ravaged southwest China has severely impacted agriculture in Sichaun and nearby regions, said a senior official from China's Ministry of Agriculture.
In the midst of ongoing heroic rescue efforts by Chinese officials, the total damage caused by the quake and its after-effects (such as landslides and flooding) are just beginning to be quantified. In all, the government estimates that approximately 33,333 hectares (Ha) of farmland were damaged. Of these, 10,000 Ha of wheat and canola fields and over 20,000 Ha of vegetable fields were hit in the 13 worst-affected cities and counties, according to Wei Chao'an, Vice Agriculture Minister.
However, the total damage may be far more severe than that. Since the quake also destroyed several irrigation systems, as much as 100,000 Ha of rice paddies may be in jeopardy. While some of these fields may be used to grow other crops, the expense would be higher, and world rice output - which is already strained by shortage - would be dealt another blow.
"A large amount of farming facilities, including more than 20,000 farm machines, were damaged," Wei said. He added that the repair work to restore the land and equipment would be "very difficult."
Sichuan, one of china's most important agricultural provinces, contributes 6% of the country's grain output, 8% of its oil crops, and 5% of its vegetables, Wei said.
He also noted that 12.5 million heads of poultry and livestock were killed in the quake. However, these were mostly poultry, and only a small portion of the 1.5 billion birds the province aimed to produce this year.
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