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BEIJING - China says the devastating earthquake killed 12.5 million farm animals and wrecked vegetable crops and irrigation systems needed to grow rice.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, more than 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of vegetables and more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of wheat were destroyed.
The ministry said Monday damage to irrigation systems could prevent farmers from growing rice on as much as 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of rice paddies. But it said that land might be used for alternative crops while the damage is repaired.
In comments reported by the official Xinhua News Agency, Wei Chao'an, a deputy agriculture minister, said most of the farm animals killed were poultry.
-AP
