Severe drought forces corn farmers in China's east to delay planting

Poor harvest expected, with crucial sowing season hit by record-high temperatures

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After weeks of scorching heat and little rain, farmer Zhang Yunjing had no choice but to collect water from a wastewater pipe to irrigate her parched corn field in China’s eastern Shandong province.

Ms Zhang would normally use water from a nearby river for the half-hectare field, but it dried up a month ago.

Record high temperatures have swept across north-west and east China, a key grain producing region, during the crucial corn sowing season, threatening to curb production in the world’s second-largest producer and consumer of the grain.

“There is no water,” Ms Zhang said. “Look, people are going to other villages to collect water. Seeds are not sprouting without water.”

China, also the world’s No. 1 corn importer, produced a record 288.8 million tonnes in 2023 and aims to grow more to achieve food security, but climate shocks are posing big challenges.

The Agriculture Ministry warned last week that the drought is impacting the sowing and growth of new crops. Beijing has allocated 443 million yuan (S$82.7 million) for drought prevention work such as watering, replanting and adding fertiliser in seven provinces.