Beijing, China—A severe cold wave is sweeping across China, prompting farmers nationwide to implement innovative strategies to safeguard their crops from harsh weather conditions. This week, China’s National Meteorological Center issued yellow alerts for snowstorms, blizzards, and cold waves, pushing agricultural communities into action.
In east China’s Jiangsu Province, pitaya farmers are at the forefront of these efforts. Facing temperatures as low as 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, they have developed creative solutions to shield their delicate pitaya, or dragon fruit, crops from the cold.
Greenhouse owners have installed thermal quilts over their structures to retain heat. To further combat the dropping temperatures, they have deployed 32 diesel heaters within the greenhouses. These measures help maintain the optimal growing conditions for pitaya trees, which thrive in temperatures between 5 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Embracing technology, farmers are also utilizing smartphones to monitor temperature and humidity levels in real-time. This allows them to make immediate adjustments to their climate control measures, ensuring the health and productivity of their crops despite the severe weather.
“The cold wave presented a significant challenge,” said Li Wei, a pitaya farmer in Jiangsu Province. “But with these measures in place, we’re confident we can protect our harvest and continue to supply fresh pitaya to the market.”
The proactive steps taken by these farmers highlight the resilience and adaptability of China’s agricultural sector in the face of climate challenges. As extreme weather events become more common, such innovative approaches are crucial for sustaining agricultural productivity and supporting the livelihoods of farming communities.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
