BEIJING, September 5, 2025 — The Chinese government has allocated $130 million (940 million yuan) in disaster relief funds to support areas affected by flooding, especially in Beijing and Gansu Province. The funds will be used to rebuild the agricultural sector and ensure food security in the wake of the devastating floods experienced this past summer. In Beijing, some of the funds will support rebuilding damaged greenhouses and modernizing irrigation systems. Gansu Province, on the other hand, will focus on revitalizing livestock breeding programs and enhancing soil conservation efforts.
The Ministry of Finance announced the allocation, which targets two essential areas: restoring agricultural production and repairing water infrastructure. The funds will be distributed among four provinces and autonomous regions — Fujian, Guangdong, Xinjiang, and Gansu — to replant damaged crops and repair agricultural facilities. Eight additional regions — Beijing, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Fujian, Shandong, Sichuan, and Gansu — will receive support to repair irrigation systems and flood control infrastructure.
Impacts on Key Regions
- Beijing: Unprecedented rainfall in July and August greatly affected the agriculture sector in the capital. On July 9, a storm delivered 179.4 mm of rain to the Fangshan District, flooding fields and damaging critical infrastructure. Since June 1, cumulative precipitation reached 432.7 mm, 75% above the 30-year average. This has disrupted crop cycles and threatened harvests. Local authorities reported that approximately 500 hectares of corn and soybean fields were severely damaged, affecting over 2,000 farmers in the region.
- In Gansu Province, catastrophic floods in August resulted in 15 fatalities, displaced 9,828 people, and devastated vast farmlands. In counties such as Xiahe and Huanxian, rainfall exceeded 100 mm, triggering mudslides that destroyed livestock barns, greenhouses, and irrigation systems. An estimated 3,000 farmers lost their primary source of income, and apple orchards and wheat fields were hit hardest.
- Relief Measures in Action:
Crop Recovery: The allocated funds will facilitate the replanting of flooded fields and help farmers replace failed crops, thereby ensuring stable grain production.
Infrastructure Rehabilitation: Efforts will prioritize restoring damaged irrigation channels, embankments, and water storage systems to enhance long-term resilience against future disasters.
Farm Facility Repair: Funds will be allocated to rebuild destroyed greenhouses, livestock shelters, and storage warehouses, safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.
Field Drainage: Advanced pumping and drainage systems will clear waterlogged fields, enabling timely replanting.
The Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Water Resources will oversee the disbursement of these funds together to ensure transparency and efficiency. Regular audits will monitor the effectiveness of investments in disaster-resistant infrastructure and climate-adaptive farming practices. This initiative aligns with China’s broader strategy to strengthen agricultural resilience in the face of worsening climate extremes.
As extreme weather events become more frequent around the world, China’s proactive disaster response highlights the importance of incorporating climate-smart agriculture (CSA) into national policies. For instance, during the severe droughts of 2022, China’s effective water management strategies and early warning systems minimized crop losses more effectively than in other affected regions. International experts emphasize that investments in water management and resilient crop systems are crucial for maintaining food supply chains, highlighting China’s leadership in global adaptation strategies.
“This allocation is a timely reminder of the urgent need for agricultural sectors worldwide to build adaptive capacity,” said Dr. Li Wei, director of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). “Combining emergency relief with long-term infrastructure upgrades can create a model for climate-resilient farming.“
