BEIJING (Reuters) – Henan province, a key wheat-producing region known as China’s granary, has issued a risk warning as dry, hot winds threaten the development of its wheat crop.
From May 11 to 13, temperatures are expected to exceed 35 degrees Celsius (95°F), posing a threat to the wheat grain-filling stage, particularly in areas like Anyang, Puyang and Zhengzhou, according to a local government statement.
The grain-filling stage is critical, as the plant transfers nutrients into developing grains, determining both yield and quality. Henan produces about one-third of China’s wheat, with the harvest typically taking place between late May and mid-June.
The warning follows an alert from China’s water resources minister last Tuesday, who cautioned about worsening drought conditions in the northern wheat belt amid limited short-term rainfall.
Weather maps show a 90-day rainfall deficit across key growing regions, including Hebei, Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu – together accounting for 61% of the winter wheat crop, according to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
“While a significant proportion of the area planted is irrigated, dry conditions can have a notable impact on output,” the bank said in a note on Tuesday.
China was the world’s top wheat importer in 2022 and 2023, but imports plummeted last year. A reduction in wheat output could prompt the Asian nation to boost imports again to make up for the shortfall.
(Reporting by Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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