China Warns of Crop Risks as Heat Sweeps Agricultural Regions As the world's most populous nation, China's agricultural sector is a critical component of global food security.
But a severe heat wave threatens to damage crops in key regions, prompting warnings from Chinese authorities and weather forecasters that temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius will jeopardize corn, rice, and cotton yields.
Xinjiang, where nearly all of China's cotton is grown, is particularly vulnerable. Temperatures are expected to soar through August 11, potentially reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius.