So far, diseases and pest infestations were “relatively light” with no significant impact on the autumn grain production, the agricultural ministry said in a statement, adding that the flooding “may exacerbate the prevalence” of diseases that affect corn, rice, and soybeans.

China has been inundated with heavy rain and flooding in its northern and northeastern regions in recent weeks, brought about by storms from typhoons Doksuri and Khanun.

The extreme weather may lead to severe pest infestations that target cotton, corn, and soybeans in some areas, the ministry said.

For example, the northern armyworm has been found in 9066.7 hectares in Keyou Middle Banner, Xingan League, Inner Mongolia, of which an area of 1333.3 hectares was severely affected, it added.

The ministry held a meeting in northeastern Heilongjiang province yesterday to discuss prevention and control of major autumn grain diseases and pests in the region, known as China’s “great northern granary”.

The rains have affected 258,000 hectares, almost 2%, of the sown area in Heilongjiang, China’s largest grain producing province, the state broadcaster reported last week.

The ministry has maintained that the 2023-24 corn output estimate remains unchanged at 282.34 million metric tonnes, eventhough it said some producing areas had been flooded.

On Monday, China’s vice-premier Liu Guozhong said damaged farmland, water conservation, and other infrastructure needed to be quickly repaired to ensure a speedy recovery in grain production, state media reported.