Anti-poverty agency urges close monitoring of flood-afflicted farmers

China's top anti-poverty agency on Tuesday urged better monitoring of farmers susceptible to flashfloods and other geological disasters.

The advisory came after strong rainfall and floods ravaged several southern provinces over the past month, hampering local poverty relief efforts and raising concerns that those who recently escaped poverty might be hit hard.

In a circular on its website, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development said local authorities should roll out assistance programs targeting those impoverished by the floods and waterlogging, and investigate how vulnerable people have been affected.

The circular said monitors would be sent to follow individual families prone to such risks and allot related help, and ensure safe housing and drinking water for those affected.

Officials are required to rule out risks in infrastructure and speed up repair of damaged houses, roads, water conservancy facilities and other poverty alleviation projects, it said.

The relief office said authorities should help poor people replant crops in a timely manner, devise planting and breeding programs that could yield fast financial paybacks, and help them claim agricultural insurance compensation.

New jobs should be created to offset the decline in agricultural revenue among the affected families, it added.

Per the circular, effort should be made to help migrant workers in affected regions find jobs. For those who returned to their home provinces, local authorities should help them get employed.

Local authorities should make plans to promote the sales of farm produce, in case lackluster sales affect vulnerable families, and should also assist breeders of nonconventional livestock that were banned earlier this year in shifting to other businesses.