Nanyang, Henan: Securing Power Supply to Combat Drought and Stabilize Grain Production

Two consecutive months without effective rainfall, hot dry winds accelerating soil moisture loss, and over ten million mu of wheat facing drought stress—such is the urgent situation in Zhenping County, Nanyang City, Henan Province. As 820,000 mu of wheat enters the critical grain-filling stage, the State Grid Nanyang Power Supply Company has mobilized its full resources and responded swiftly to launch an intensive campaign to “ensure stable electricity and combat drought to protect the wheat harvest.”

“I’m the designated ‘Well Chief’ here. If there’s any issue with electricity during drought irrigation, you can count on me.” On May 15, in Heilongmiao Village, Jiasong Town, Zhenping County, all forms of irrigation—manual, drip, sprinkler, and smart systems—were operating in tandem, with drought relief efforts in full swing. Li Dong, the village’s “Well Chief,” led a team of grid service personnel on continuous patrol and maintenance of irrigation power facilities, addressing any electrical anomalies in real time.

According to reports, Zhenping County has 820,000 mu of wheat under cultivation this year. To ensure crop survival amid drought, the county has deployed 23 reservoirs of various sizes, 5,434 motorized wells, and 1,851 irrigation machines. Since mid-April, the State Grid Zhenping Power Supply Company has implemented a comprehensive “1+2 Well Chief Responsibility System” for drought-response power services. Under this system, each administrative village is assigned one highly qualified and responsible transformer area customer manager to serve as “Well Chief,” supported by two grid team members. These personnel assist villagers with all electricity-related irrigation needs. Information such as the Well Chief’s name, service scope, and contact details is prominently displayed on each transformer platform used for field irrigation. Additionally, a digital response group has been established to enhance coordination and service efficiency. The Well Chiefs and grid members regularly inspect the power supply boxes at wellheads, check whether water pumps are functioning properly, assist in configuring irrigation equipment, troubleshoot power-related issues, and help farmers purchase electricity via the “State Grid Online” mobile app—ensuring that every well remains powered and water can be pumped at any time.

To date, the county’s 136 Well Chiefs have delivered 567 power-related irrigation services, patrolled 21 10kV power supply lines, and inspected 252 irrigation transformers. They have identified and resolved 46 safety hazards along the grid, supporting irrigation over a cumulative area of 935,400 mu. As a result, drought conditions across the county have been significantly alleviated.（By Yuan Wenjun）