Autumn harvest delivers bumper yields, rising incomes for farmers across China

Farmers across China are reporting bumper autumn harvests this October, as major agricultural regions see rising yields and promising market prospects driven by technology upgrades and innovative farming models.

In Huimin County, east China's Shandong Province, over 1.1 million mu (about 73,333 hectares) of corn have entered harvest season.

"This year, we adopted integrated drip irrigation and fertilization technology, and pest control was effectively managed early in the season. The corn yield per mu has reached 750 kg, an increase of about 150 kg compared to previous years. My 600 mu of field have produced an additional 90,000 kg of corn in total, boosting my profits by nearly 200,000 yuan (about 28,092 U.S. dollars)," said local farmer Zhu Liangzhong.

This year, the corn planting area in Huimin County totals 1.145 million mu, an increase of 51,000 mu over last year, and the harvest will be completed by the end of October.

In Hezhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, taro and corn are being harvested side by side under an intercropping system that maximizes land use and farmer earnings.

"Since 2023, we have experimented with intercropping fragrant taro and corn. This 'double harvesting from one field' model not only improves land use efficiency but also diversifies our income channels as growers," said farmer Xue Tianzhao.

Hezhou's taro cultivation spans 171,600 mu this year, with total output expected to exceed 350,000 tons this year.

Meanwhile, in Shouyang County, north China's Shanxi Province, frangrant pears have reached their peak harvest season. Villagers in Xiluo Town are busy picking, sorting, and packing the fruit.

"Based on the recent harvest, our village's total output of Yulu fragrant pears this year is around 1.75 million kg, with an estimated output value reaching 12 million yuan," said Guo Yan, a college-graduate village official.

With orchards covering 40,100 mu and a total yield of 27,000 tons expected, the pear industry has become a backbone for local prosperity.

Autumn harvest delivers bumper yields, rising incomes for farmers across China

The organizing committee of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games has unveiled the titles, creative visions, and first talents of the opening and closing ceremonies, as Thursday marked 50 days before the event officially gets underway.

Scheduled from March 6 to 15 across multiple Italian cities, the Games will bring together 665 athletes from 50 countries and regions to compete for 79 gold medals across six sporting disciplines.

The opening ceremony, titled "Life in Motion," will be staged at the historic Arena di Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presenting a tribute to change and transformation that seeks to redefine disability through a new harmony between people and the environment.

"I paid close attention to the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which I consider one of the three or four most beautiful in the history of Olympic ceremonies. This time at the ancient Arena di Verona, we will place greater emphasis on showcasing the human element," the ceremonies' artistic director Alfredo Accatino told a Chinese reporter at the event.

The closing ceremony, themed "Italian Souvenir," will be held on March 15 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, guiding athletes, volunteers, and fans through a journey that captures the emotions and memories of the Games after days of competition and achievement.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee's Chief Brand and Communications Officer, believes that Italy will deliver "the best Paralympic Games" following the benchmark set by the Beijing Winter Paralympics in 2022.

"I think what China did in Beijing has really set the benchmark for all future teams competing in the Paralympic Winter Games in terms of performance. That's why I think Milano-Cortina will be the best Paralympic Games we've ever seen for sports," he said.

Milano-Cortina Paralympics reveal opening, closing themes as Games draw near