About 296 million cross-regional passenger trips are expected in China on Saturday, the first day of the Qingming Festival holiday which runs from April 4 to 6, a 2.7-percent increase compared with the same period of last year, said the Ministry of Transport.

Railway authorities have increased transport capacity to ensure smooth travel for passengers, the ministry said.

China’s railway system is expected to handle 21.9 million passenger trips on Saturday, with the transportation sector planning to operate an additional 1,173 passenger trains.

Railway authorities in cities such as Guangzhou and Nanchang have added night high-speed trains starting Saturday to meet travel demand for spring outings and tomb-sweeping activities.

Meanwhile, the country’s highway network is expected to handle 64.5 million vehicle trips on the same day.

Also on Saturday, China’s waterways are estimated to handle over 1.35 million passenger trips, representing a year-on-year increase of 11.7 percent.  

The civil aviation sector is expected to welcome 1.92 million passengers on the same day, with major airlines having increased flights to ensure smooth travel for long-distance passengers.

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for people to pay tribute to the dead and worship their ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for people as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Farmers in India, a major agricultural producer and fertilizer importer, are raising concerns over fertilizer availability ahead of the planting season, as the escalating Middle East conflict and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz put global supplies at risk.

The Middle East serves as both a vital energy hub and a major global fertilizer supplier, yet the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has heightened risks of disruption to international supplies.

Chand Singh Yadav, a farmer in Haryana, a northern Indian state, said poor crop yields would be disastrous for the country and called on the government to ensure adequate supplies of fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent a food crisis. “Without fertilizers, our crops will not grow well, and this would be disastrous for the entire country. If farmers cannot grow crops, people will not be able to buy food in the market. We urge the government to improve the supply system for fertilizers, agrochemicals and seeds to prevent the country and society as a whole from sliding into a food crisis,” he said.

The Indian government is stepping up subsidies for farmers and optimizing fertilizer distribution and allocation to stabilize the supply. Prices have remained broadly stable, but demand is expected to surge ahead of the planting season, potentially exacerbating supply pressures.

“The current situation is worrying for us farmers. Spring sowing has not yet started, and the rainy season has not arrived. Fertilizer prices are temporarily stable, but in two months, demand for agricultural fertilizers will become pressing. Without fertilizers, it will be difficult to properly cultivate various types of crops. Urea and diammonium phosphate are especially critical. Crops can only grow normally when these fertilizers are applied. As these fertilizers are largely imported, if the conflict persists, supplies cannot be guaranteed,” said Santosh Mishra, a farmer in India’s eastern state of Odisha.