After devastating floods ravaged farmland across Hebei Province in north China lately, local authorities have mobilized manpower and other emergency resources to support local farmers in efforts to restore agricultural production.
In Jiuying Village, Zhangjiakou City, more than 1,300 hectares of farmland were affected by flooding. Many low-lying cornfields remain submerged and have suffered extensive damage.
"It's not just my crops, and a lot of nearby fields were inundated too. The losses are tremendous," said Wang Aijun, a major grain grower in Jiuying Village.
Agricultural technicians visiting the site confirmed that as floodwaters recede, soil nutrients are found to have been depleted. To address this situation, soil samples have been collected for urgent analysis.
"We've taken soil samples and sent them to the lab. We need to find out which fertilizers are deficient and how much is needed so that we can guide farmers accurately," said Song Jinku, director of the Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Technical Promotion Station of Huailai County.
"We can use drones to spray foliar fertilizers and also directly apply nitrogen and potassium fertilizers to the soil," said Zhang Haiyong, deputy director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Huailai County.
Efforts to drain floodwater from the soaked fields are currently underway. To support recovery in the hardest-hit areas, including Zhangjiakou, Chengde and Baoding, over 5,000 tons of agricultural supplies have been urgently distributed by Hebei's agricultural authorities.
"We're providing follow-up support and services on site. Whether it's fertilizer or technical help, whatever farmers need, we'll ensure timely delivery," said Xu Jian, general manager of the Zhangjiakou branch of Hebei Agricultural Supplies Group.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as recovery efforts intensify to minimize crop losses.
North China's Hebei races to aid farmers after floods
