On January 30, Han Changfu, Secretary of the Party Group and Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, presided over a special meeting to convey and implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the spirit of the meetings of the Central Leading Group for COVID‑19 Response, and the deployment requirements of the joint prevention and control mechanism, while also deliberating and arranging current epidemic‑prevention and control efforts. The meeting emphasized that the agricultural and rural system must resolutely carry out the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, fully uphold the principles of bolstering confidence, working together in solidarity, pursuing scientific prevention and control, and adopting targeted measures, earnestly fulfill their duties, and actively cooperate in all related epidemic‑prevention and control work.
The meeting emphasized that,
At present, priority should be given to ensuring the production and supply of “vegetable basket” products, strengthening production guidance and services, and guaranteeing the supply and transportation of agricultural inputs such as feed, seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. Efforts should be made to address bottlenecks in supplementing feed for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture, as well as in the outbound logistics of “vegetable basket” products, thereby maintaining normal production order, ensuring the timely and effective supply of these essential goods, and providing the material support needed to win the battle against the epidemic.
It is necessary to coordinate efforts to strengthen epidemic prevention and control in rural areas, fully leveraging the role of village loudspeakers, banners, text messages, and WeChat to disseminate relevant preventive knowledge and control requirements to farmers through appeals, open letters, and catchy rhymes. At the same time, we must continue to steadfastly carry out work on the prevention and control of major animal diseases.
In addition, on January 29, in response to localized vegetable supply shortages caused by the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued an urgent notice, calling on agricultural and rural departments at all levels to ensure winter–spring vegetable production, conduct a thorough assessment of supply and demand, develop contingency plans, intensify production efforts, and do everything possible to boost output. The notice also urged coordination with relevant authorities to guarantee the smooth supply of vegetables, maintain adequate market availability and broadly stable prices, meet the daily needs of the public, and provide solid material support for winning the battle against the epidemic.
The Notice requires all localities to implement the “vegetable basket” mayoral responsibility system, conduct a thorough survey of the types, acreage, and yields of vegetables currently in the fields within their jurisdictions, and accurately assess local demand, external supply capacity, and import requirements.
Major vegetable‑producing and heavily affected regions should incorporate measures to ensure stable vegetable supply into their local emergency response plans for epidemic prevention and control.
Key regions for transporting southern vegetables to the north and key northern regions for facility-grown vegetables should appropriately increase their product supply to meet market demand.
The Notice emphasizes that, in light of epidemic prevention and control requirements and taking into account the characteristics of winter–spring vegetable production, efforts should be made to coordinate and optimize both the product mix and the spatial distribution of production.
First, diversify crop varieties: localities may appropriately expand the production of leafy greens and fast-growing vegetables in response to market demand, thereby ensuring a balanced supply of vegetables.
Second, we will strengthen technical services, guiding farmers to enhance field management tailored to local conditions and seasonal needs, implement standardized production and cultivation practices, and thereby increase yields and improve product quality.
Third, ensure timely harvesting by leveraging facility-based production and advanced cultivation techniques to promote early and rapid growth of field-grown vegetables. Strengthen mutual cooperation among vegetable production bases, harvest mature crops promptly, bring them to market without delay, and thereby increase supply.
Fourth, strengthen quality oversight to ensure the safety and quality of vegetables, and never allow market urgency to lead to neglect of quality management.
The Notice requires agricultural and rural departments at all levels to strengthen guidance and support for vegetable producers, with particular emphasis on bolstering large-scale producers such as major growers, specialized cooperatives, family farms, and agricultural enterprises.
All major winter–spring vegetable-producing regions should actively organize production, strengthen communication and coordination with key cities and priority areas, and, in response to market demand, promptly arrange supply sources, coordinate transportation, and ensure adequate supplies.
First, strengthen monitoring and early warning systems, promptly release supply-and-demand information on major vegetable products, and guide vegetable growers and traders to make informed production plans, thereby stabilizing market expectations.
Second, we will strengthen information sharing by actively coordinating with major vegetable-producing counties and large-scale producers, proactively connecting them with key urban marketing entities in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, and other priority cities, establishing a close communication mechanism, assigning dedicated personnel to oversee the process, promptly exchanging supply-and-demand information, and balancing supply and demand.
Third, we will ensure smooth transportation channels by working closely with the transport and public security authorities to maintain the “green channel” for fresh and perishable agricultural products, enhance transport efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and facilitate the rapid and orderly circulation of vegetables, thereby guaranteeing that they can enter urban markets and retail outlets.
The Notice points out that since the onset of winter, temperatures have remained relatively mild, and most regions have experienced ample rainfall and snowfall, which has generally been conducive to the growth and development of vegetables in the fields.
It is expected that, in late January to early February, a moderate cold air mass will affect northern China, bringing a temperature drop of 4–6°C, with some areas experiencing a decline exceeding 8°C.
Light to moderate rainfall is expected across southwestern, Jianghan, Jiangnan, and South China, with heavy rain in some localized areas.
All localities should closely monitor weather changes, develop and implement emergency response plans for extreme weather, put in place disaster prevention and mitigation measures, and make every effort to ensure vegetable production.
For areas damaged by the disaster, efforts must be stepped up to repair damaged infrastructure and promptly plant or replant fast-growing vegetables, ensuring that key vegetable supplies remain available and uninterrupted.
Source: Website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
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