Urgent notice from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs: Brown planthopper populations have doubled compared with last year—strict measures are needed to prevent a severe outbreak!

To the Departments (Bureaus, Commissions) of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong Provinces (Autonomous Regions, Directly Administered Municipalities):
At present, southern rice-growing regions are in a critical period for rice growth and also at a key juncture for controlling the two‑generation migratory rice pests. According to monitoring data, in most of the southern rice‑growing areas, both light‑trap counts and field pest populations have exceeded twice the levels of last year and the five‑year average for the same period. In some areas, despite control measures, pest densities have once again reached threshold levels, with some fields reporting more than 10,000 insects per 100 rice plants. Experts note that frequent typhoon activity in recent weeks has facilitated the dispersal and migration of rice planthoppers, while persistently high temperatures into autumn may lead to an increased number of generations and a prolonged period of damage, posing a serious threat to rice production, particularly to single‑ and double‑cropped late‑season rice. To strengthen monitoring and control efforts, prevent large‑scale outbreaks, and ensure the safety of rice production, the following urgent notice is hereby issued.
I. Implement and enforce the regulations, and strengthen local accountability.
All localities must conscientiously implement the provisions of the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Crop Pests and Diseases, adhere to the principles of government leadership and local responsibility, strengthen organizational leadership over pest and disease control efforts, and ensure adequate funding and resources for the prevention and control of major outbreaks. Agricultural and rural departments at all levels should intensify oversight and management of pest and disease control within their jurisdictions, cascade responsibilities down to every level, and adopt a proactive approach—planning early, issuing timely warnings, making preparations in advance, and implementing preventive measures promptly. They should also conduct extensive publicity and mobilization, overcome complacency and war-weariness, and ensure that no effort is spared until the autumn grain harvest is secured.
II. Strengthen monitoring and surveys, and issue early warning information.
According to surveys conducted by the National Crop Pest and Disease Monitoring Network, the risk of a rice planthopper outbreak is relatively high. Local authorities are urged to strengthen systematic monitoring at light traps and in fields, and to deploy specialized technical teams to carry out targeted, scheduled pest‑monitoring activities. This will enable a comprehensive understanding of the distribution and development trends within their jurisdictions, the timely issuance of accurate forecasts and early warnings, and the identification of priority control areas and optimal timing for intervention. Information on pest and disease occurrence, along with relevant management techniques, should be disseminated through multiple channels—including television, radio, WeChat official accounts, and text messages—to guide effective control measures.
III. Implement integrated pest management and strictly prevent outbreaks from escalating into disasters.
All localities should intensify support for specialized pest and disease control service organizations, establish a coordinated and efficient control service system, and, based on the actual incidence of pests and diseases, promptly organize unified prevention and control as well as emergency response measures. In single-cropping late‑rice areas such as the Jianghuai Plain and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, it is essential to simultaneously address rice sheath blight, false smut, and blast disease of the panicle neck, implementing region‑specific unified prevention and control and collective management to reduce initial infestation levels and prevent large‑scale outbreaks. In double‑cropping late‑rice regions like South China and the Jiangnan area, a strategy of “suppressing early and controlling later” should be adopted—both minimizing local pest populations and preparing for the potential influx of substantial numbers of migratory pests from outside.
IV. Strengthen Supervision and Inspection to Ensure Effective Implementation of Measures
Starting in mid-September, our department will dispatch research and guidance teams that will combine routine monitoring and on-site supervision during critical periods to track the occurrence of major rice pests and diseases, such as brown planthoppers, in key provinces, promptly assess progress in prevention and control, and conduct field‑based research and guidance. Local authorities are also encouraged to establish a zoned responsibility system for liaison and supervision, deploying dedicated, highly skilled personnel to villages and fixed posts during critical phases of pest and disease management. These teams should go directly to the production frontlines to provide hands‑on, face‑to‑face guidance, ensuring the scientific, safe, and reduced‑dose application of pesticides and effectively improving the rate at which advanced control technologies are implemented.

Source: General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Author: General Office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs