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| Pig carcasses tied to trees are seen in floodwaters next to farmland following heavy rainfall in Wangfan village of Xinxiang, Henan province, China July 25, 2021. Picture taken July 25, 2021. (Photo by=REUTERS/Aly Song) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] XINXIANG, China: Around 100 of Cheng's pigs drowned in floods that paralyzed China's central Henan province last week, and the outlook for those left alive is bleak, Reuters reported. Cheng's farm is one of the thousands in Henan, famous for agriculture, and pork production in particular. The province was struck by heavy rains last week that sparked the worst flash flooding in centuries, catching many by surprise.
Across the village, where most of the 3,000 other residents also raise pigs or chickens or grow grain, people were clearing debris left by the receding floodwaters. Some carted out wheelbarrows and crates of lifeless chickens. Dead pigs lay bloated in the water, tied to trees to stop them from floating away. Parts of the village smelled strongly of mud and rotting carcasses. At least 200,000 chickens and up to 6,000 pigs were lost in the flood, half of the village's herd, farmers told Reuters. Across Henan, rains have deluged 1,678 larger-scale farms, killing more than a million animals.
Meanwhile, though Chinese pig production has become increasingly intensive in recent years, millions of small farmers still play a major role in producing the country's favorite meat. Last week, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued guidelines to local governments on how to prevent animal disease after flooding, including measures on disposal of carcasses and disinfection of farms.
