The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has provided hotlines and online message platforms to ensure agricultural supplies for spring ploughing amid the COVID-19 epidemic, an official said at a Joint Prevention and Control news conference on Wednesday.

Mao Dezhi, deputy director of the Ministry's Department of Rural Cooperative Economy, said recent local flare-ups of COVID-19 cases have affected farming activities, the supply of agricultural materials and the use of agricultural machinery.

"Village officials must not set up unauthorized check points to intercept transportation or impose lockdown, and agricultural production should be normally conducted in counties without cases," Mao said.

Local authorities need to ensure a reasonable flow of agricultural machines, produce and farmers under epidemic prevention and control measures in virus-stricken regions. Farmers in those regions should be allowed to conduct farming activities and travel point-to-point between home and field, he said.

He added agricultural technicians should also be allowed to guide farming in the fields to avoid missing the farming season.

Local authorities are urged to organize farmers who are willing to return to their hometowns to conduct activities amid the spring ploughing season. Returnees can be involved in agricultural production under epidemic prevention measures, he said.

Fast passages should be established for transporting agricultural materials such as fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds to ensure the supply, he added.