Henan farmers breathe easy as power supply stabilizes irrigation

Powered by an electric motor, a pipe pumps out copious amounts of water into Peng Shunli's wheat field in Queshan county, Henan province. "The electric irrigation system is now so convenient there's hardly any need for my manual labor," Peng, from Pengzhuang village in Liudian town in northeastern Queshan, said.

The irrigation system has raised expectations of a good harvest from a planting area of some 143,000 hectares earmarked for main crops each year.

Queshan is a major grain-producing county with an annual wheat output of above 460,000 metric tons. Chestnuts, tobacco leaves and herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine are other produce the county is known for.

"March is a critical time for wheat to grow after irrigation. Sufficient water supply can help wheat seedlings to grow well," said farmer Liu Jinxi from Jingou village, Shuanghe town in southeastern Queshan. Several electric pumps help irrigate dozens of acres nearby, he said.

The local branch of State Grid, China's power transmitter and distributor, has adopted a two-pronged approach to aid agriculture, enabling farmers such as Peng and Liu to breathe easy these days.

Zhang Yongming, a staff member of State Grid Queshan Power Supply Co, said: "We help irrigate the grain fields and also help farmers grow vegetables. Both these are local farmers' main businesses."

While visiting wheat fields in Zhulizhuang community, Zhang told local farmers that he had just conducted a thorough examination of their electrical equipment, and found the wiring in the distribution boxes to be normal, which means there would be no hindrance to irrigation work.

Zhang said State Grid's local unit has taken five measures so far: power supply all the way to the fields; equipment investigation to avert any possible hidden dangers; publicity to highlight electricity safety; instant power supply installations; and prompt solutions to electricity consumption problems. This is to ensure sufficient electricity for farmers.

He said the unit is dispatching 16 service teams composed of members from subsidiaries to the farmers, to help solve their problems.

"So far, the service teams have checked 330 agricultural drainage spots and examined 32 kilometers of power lines, helping farmers eliminate 26 hidden dangers for spring irrigation work and solving 21 problems they had red-flagged," Zhang said.

At Louling village's vegetable planting base in Shuanghe town, vegetable grower Duan Jianling said, "In the past, growing vegetables depended on weather, but now farming relies on electricity, especially during cold snaps."

He told State Grid's local team, "With your full support, I'll likely have a good harvest this year."

The vegetable planting base covers some 20 hectares, with 40-plus standardized vegetable and fruit greenhouses, working as a "vegetable basket" for the entire county.

Jiang Guiyin, local government head at Queshan, said besides ensuring a grain output of 580,000 tons this year, the county aims to expand the output of Chinese herbal medicines, chestnuts, tobacco leaves, sweet potatoes, watermelons and mushrooms.

Zhang Huawei, in charge of corporate work at Queshan Power Supply Co, said the company will provide a network-style service for the growers, offering one-on-one services and safeguarding their use of electricity.

The company's service team will visit every greenhouse, replace aging switches and eliminate risks to shutters and electric irrigation equipment, so as to ensure reliable electricity supply, he said.

Zhang Gong, director of the Henan Provincial Grain and Material Reserve Bureau, has said previously that the province would raise its buying and reserve capabilities for grain and other important agricultural products this year, and expand its green food industry.