Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Organizing the delivery of agricultural inputs to villages and retail outlets, with a focus on guiding agricultural input manufacturers to resume production and operations.

On February 10, the General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a notice, Eight measures have been introduced to support spring agricultural production, calling on agricultural and rural departments at all levels to prioritize COVID‑19 prevention and control while ensuring timely preparation for spring planting, thereby securing a bumper harvest of grain and agricultural products in this year of moderate prosperity.  

First, we must mobilize farmers to ensure that spring fieldwork and sowing are carried out on schedule. Fully leverage the role of rural grassroots Party organizations as strong fortresses and that of Party members as pioneers and models; while ensuring adequate personal protection, guide farmers and all types of business entities to enter the fields in an orderly manner, stagger their work schedules, and disperse their activities to avoid gatherings. No unwarranted obstruction of farmers’ normal agricultural operations shall be permitted.

　　 Second, we must prioritize and effectively carry out spring field management. In the main winter wheat-producing regions, fields are gradually turning green and tillering from south to north. Farmers should seize the favorable window of warming weather to carry out timely field management while continuing to prevent and control the epidemic. For early-sown, vigorously growing wheat fields, it is essential to curb excessive vegetative growth to prevent lodging; for fields with weak individual plants and insufficient stand density, early fertilization and irrigation are needed to help weaker plants strengthen and improve yield potential. In the Yangtze River basin, rapeseed crops require additional bolting fertilizer to promote spring growth and ensure balanced development. Winter–spring vegetables should be harvested promptly, followed by appropriate crop rotation, with an emphasis on expanding the acreage of fast-growing varieties. In orchards and tea gardens, fertilizer and water management must be intensified, with timely weeding, pruning, and thinning of flowers and fruits to lay a solid foundation for high yields.

　　 Third, we must organize the delivery of agricultural supplies to villages and retail outlets. It is strictly prohibited to set up unauthorized checkpoints or arbitrarily block roads and disrupt traffic without approval from the people’s government at or above the county level, so as to unblock transportation bottlenecks and ensure the smooth delivery of agricultural inputs—such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides—necessary for spring farming. We must strengthen monitoring, coordination, and reallocation of agricultural input supply and demand, and encourage agro‑input enterprises and distributors to implement “point-to-point” production and delivery, thereby ensuring that farmers have access to the inputs they need. At the same time, we will tighten market oversight of agricultural inputs, crack down rigorously on the manufacture and sale of counterfeit and substandard products, and ensure that farmers can use safe and reliable agricultural inputs.

　 　Fourth, ensure thorough preparation for agricultural machinery operations. Fully leverage the pivotal role of agricultural machinery in spring‑time farming, mobilizing relevant producers and enterprises to conduct personnel training, prepare and maintain equipment, and ensure a steady supply of spare parts, thereby guaranteeing that both machinery and operators are ready to commence operations in optimal condition. Develop contingency plans for mechanized operations, rationally allocate and deploy available equipment, and provide inter‑regional service support. In areas facing labor shortages due to epidemic prevention measures, organize various new types of business entities and specialized social service providers to offer contract tillage, planting, and management services.

　　Fifth, technical guidance services shall be provided. Timely convene experts to develop region‑specific and crop‑specific technical guidelines, and leverage broadcasting, television, the internet, WeChat, and other channels to deliver online training, remote guidance, and virtual Q&A. During critical farming periods and when farmers are in urgent need, while ensuring effective epidemic prevention and control, dispatch agricultural extension personnel to villages and households to provide essential on‑site technical assistance.

　 　Sixth, we must rigorously ensure the implementation of disaster prevention and mitigation measures. Strengthen monitoring and early warning systems, closely track major weather changes in spring, and issue timely alerts. Mobilize experts to develop effective preventive measures against disasters, promote science-based disaster prevention, with particular emphasis on guarding against late-spring cold snaps and spring droughts. This year, wheat stripe rust and rapeseed sclerotinia are showing a strong resurgence, and the fall armyworm poses a significant risk of widespread outbreaks; therefore, ensure that pesticides and application equipment are prepared well in advance, guide farmers in carrying out timely emergency control measures, vigorously implement unified pest management and coordinated prevention and control, and resolutely curb the spread of diseases and pests.

　　 Seventh, we should encourage local and nearby employment. In response to the challenges of labor shortages and high labor costs faced by large-scale agricultural producers, local farmers and returnees are being mobilized to participate in agricultural production close to their homes. Family farms, cooperatives, leading enterprises, and other new types of agricultural business entities are encouraged to engage in mutual assistance and labor‑sharing arrangements to address the current difficulties in securing sufficient manpower for vegetable production.

　　 Eighth, we must guide agricultural input enterprises to resume work and production. Through proactive communication and coordination, agricultural input manufacturers of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs have been included on the list of key enterprises resuming work and production, supporting these companies in accelerating their restart, promptly restoring production capacity, increasing market supply, and ensuring the needs of spring farming.

Source of the article: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs