Chongming's good air quality a boon to farms, crops

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Chongming farmers have unanimously recognised the positive impact of good air on agricultural products.

Toxic gases in the air, such as sulphur dioxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides, can enter the leaves or crops through the open stomata on their surface, thus affecting photosynthesis efficiency and damaging leaf tissue, leading to yellowing, whitening and withering of the leaves.

The Shanghai Chongming District People’s Government Information Office said the excellence of air quality in Chongming Island increased from 80.5 per cent in 2017 to 92.8 per cent in 2021.

“The concentration of fine particulate matter PM2.5 decreased by 31.6 per cent during the same period,” it said in a statement.

It said the concentration of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide continued to decrease, reaching the national first-class standard. Chongming’s overall air quality is one of the best among Shanghai’s 16 districts.

Farmers who plant crispy taros in Luhu Village are proud of their better quality products compared to neighbouring provinces.

“We don’t use pesticides to enhance rice growth because the soil is good, the water is good, and the air is good,” said Huang Guochao, who planted rice in Miaozhen Town and initiated the “rice-fish symbiosis” project.

In addition, the 10 hectares of honey pear planted in Xinhe Town also require a high-growth environment, and only in Chongming can they grow well, local farmers added.

-- BERNAMA