New methods help China fight drought

Serious droughts have hit several areas in southern China. Local officials and residents in Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan are trying a number of different measures to brush back the dry spells.

This used to be a deep reservoir in Guizhou Province's Shuicheng County. Now, only thin streams remain.

But the local Water Resources Department is taking advantage of the small springs by digging down to a bigger underground well.

Xie Xianggang, Deputy County Governor, said, "This used to be a good source of drinking water. By broadening it, we get 30 times more water every day."

By digging wells, and saving water from power generation, the county has stored up 3 million cubic meters, ensuring that basic drinking needs will be met.

A farmer shows a dying maize seedling at Linwang Village in Donglan  County, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, March 11, 2010. The sustaining severe drought has ravaged the region and other  three provinces in southwest China since October last year.  (Xinhua/Wei Lifu)