Drought hikes vegetable prices

A local farmer looks at dying crop in the field in Shihuitang village of  Shiping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 24, 2010. The  sustaining severe drought ravaged this region since last October and  made no harvest of crops. (Xinhua/Hu Yanhui)

The constant parched conditions in Yunnan have caused the prices of vegetables to go up. Local farmers have been unable to salvage anything edible from the dry fields.

As a result, the prices of cabbages and melons have doubled. To ensure a constant supply, authorities have bought thousands of tons of vegetables from neighboring provinces. It's hoped prices will fall after supplies stabilize.

A local farmer looks at dying crop in the field in Shihuitang village of  Shiping County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 24, 2010. The  sustaining severe drought ravaged this region since last October and made  no harvest of crops. (Xinhua/Hu Yanhui)