China: Drought hits southwestern China cocoon harvest
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admin
PublishDate:
2006-08-29 15:39:00
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351
Sichuan and Chongqing’s worst drought and extreme high temperature in 50 years has affected mulberry land, resulting in a huge loss of cocoon crop in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality. It’s predicted that autumn cocoon output will drop 40-50 per cent in Sichuan’s Neijiang. An estimated 70 percent drop in autumn cocoon output directly prune the sericulture production in Sichuan’s zigong.
To reduce losses, local agricultural sectors urges farmers to breed more late-autumn silkworms to make up for the shortfall.
According to a circular issued by the provincial government, Sichuan will have to plant more mulberry trees during October to reduce its losses from the severe drought.
Since last week, more rain has fallen in different parts of Sichuan, mitigating the heat wave that has lasted for nearly two months in the western and southern parts of the province.
But drought is still severe in most parts of eastern and central Sichuan.
Drought in Chongqing has reaches its peak and will continue till Middle September, according to Central Meteorological Station.