The acreage in China planted with autumn grain has grown this year, as key producing areas implement targeted measures to shore up production and lay the groundwork for a bumper harvest.
As autumn grain crops such as rice enter their crucial heading and grain-filling stages, agricultural authorities are promoting the "one-spray, multi-benefit" technique - a process of simultaneously applying fungicides, pesticides, and plant growth regulators to prevent diseases, control pests, and enhance crop growth and yield.
The central government has allocated over 2 billion yuan (over 280 million U.S. dollars) in agricultural disaster prevention and relief funds to support the implementation of the technique for autumn grain crops.
In the eastern province of Anhui, over 64 million mu (4.27 million hectares) of autumn grain crops are generally in better condition compared to the same period last year. Authorities in Huoqiu County have established six demonstration zones for green prevention and control of rice crops and organized over 100 professional plant protection teams to ensure full coverage of the "one-spray, multi-benefit" approach on the county's 1.9 million mu of rice.
In central China's Henan Province, which has 76 million mu (5.07 million hectares) of autumn grain, authorities have formed 11 expert teams to provide tailored technical guidance services down to the township level, ensuring that key yield-boosting measures are implemented on the ground.
In the eastern province of Shandong, which has over 66 million mu (4.4 million hectares) of autumn grain, timely field management has helped maintain generally good crop conditions, despite experiencing both drought and flood earlier in the year. Local authorities are now channeling over 110 million yuan (over 15 million U.S. dollars) from central fiscal funds to implement the "one-spray, multi-benefit" program. The city of Xintai has organized 11 professional aerial spraying teams and brought in six high-performance drones, nearly doubling the work efficiency.
The autumn grain acreage in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has remained stable at over 218 million mu (14.5 million hectares). At the Junchuan Farm owned by the Beidahuang Group, one of China's major grain producers, farmers are using a spore capture device to monitor harmful pathogen levels in the fields, while also analyzing rice growth conditions through multispectral sensors mounted on drones.
"Our ability to conduct precise analysis and control measures has allowed us to reduce agricultural costs by 20 yuan per mu (about 40 U.S. dollars per hectare)," said He Xu, deputy director of the agricultural technology service center at the Junchuan Farm.
Since the start of the summer, many parts of the country have experienced heavy rainfall, while others have suffered drought. However, the 'crop disaster situation' across the country is less severe than last year and than the historical average.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs' crop monitoring system shows that in the main producing regions most autumn grain crops are in normal condition with sufficient plant populations, laying a solid foundation for a bumper harvest.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will closely monitor the severely affected areas in the main production zones, focusing on every grain crop variety and key production stage. We will send specialized technology teams to guide the implementation of key measures like the 'one-spray, multi-benefit' technique to stabilize production, increase yields, and enhance disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. We will spare no effort to protect against natural disasters and ensure good harvests," said Zhu Juan, director of the crop information division at the ministry's department of crop production management.
China’s grain-growing acreage grows, boosted by yield-enhancing techniques
