The current heat wave is taking a toll on agriculture in much of Jiangsu province and regional governments are taking proactive measures to address the problems.
The usually fast growing water spinach in the greenhouses have shown signs of slower growth due to the recent heat wave which has caused the temperatures inside the greenhouses surge to 60 or even 70 degrees Celsius.
The sun is even killing part of the vegetables though the water spinach is grown out of the heat-resistant varieties.
The workers have tried various means such as adding fertilizers, sprinkling irrigation, ventilation and sun shading nets to ensure the healthy growth of the vegetables until the dog days are over.
The provincial commission of agriculture has issued a notice, demanding that regional agricultural departments should strengthen their guidance on agricultural production during the dog days.
Agricultural authorities in Xuyi and Yizheng Counties have channeled water to irrigate the rice fields and alleviate the drought in response to the cracking paddy rice fields and the withering of the rice leaves.
Aquaculture farmers in Taizhou have coped with the untimely death of hairy crabs with the agricultural specialists giving instructions on water and oxygen increase and elimination of water weeds at more frequent intervals to help reduce the temperatures in the ponds.
Agricultural specialists in Zhenjiang city have given advice to the farmers on the approaches to remedying the sun-burnt tea trees so as to minimize the losses through self-help drought resistance.
