Anti-hail measures guard Kaiyang farmers' wallets

Longxi village installs nets to protect honey sugar plums from hailstorms. [Photo/WeChat account of Kaiyang county]

In recent years, hailstorms have caused severe losses for farmers growing honey sugar plums in Longxi village, Longshui township, Kaiyang county. To minimize the impact on the fruit industry and reduce farmers' economic losses, Kaiyang has made efforts to construct anti-hail nets and repair and rebuild greenhouses.

Now, rows of newly installed white anti-hail nets cover the trees at the plum plantation in Longxi village. Ding Dong, a major local grower, says, "When hail strikes during the growth phase of the plums, it easily leaves small dents, affecting their growth and appearance and greatly impacting their price. Last year, production dropped by 80 percent. We are truly grateful for the government's investment in setting up these anti-hail nets – it's a great help for us farmers."

The semi-automatic anti-hail nets feature a ridge-shaped structure with sloped sides. These sides allow most hailstones to roll off instead of accumulating on the net, reducing the load pressure on the nets and thereby extending their lifespan.

The new design of anti-hail nets allows for faster deployment and retraction, which is more efficient and cost-effective than traditional methods.

The Longshui township anti-hail net construction project began in October and has now been completed. The township now plans to promote anti-hail measures across the area. This will help mitigate the effects of extreme weather and protect the growth of over 10,000 mu (666.67 hectares) of plums and 5,000 mu of loquats within the township, boosting villagers' incomes.