Rare drought to continue, China makes every effort to fight

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-07-2009 08:55

The drought affecting large parts of China is only going to get worse. The China Meteorological Observatory has predicted the drought will likely continue into March. Local governments in drought-stricken provinces are doing everything possible to fight against the worst drought in half a century.

Workers of a power company help a farmer to irrigate the  field in Wuhe County, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 5,  2009. China raised the drought emergency class Thursday from level two to level one, the highest alert, in response to the worst drought to hit northern China in half a century,  according to a State Council meeting. (Xinhua/Yan Ruipeng)

The latest statistics show the severe drought is tightening its grip on large sections of the country's wheat-growing areas.

So far, 15 provinces and municipalities across the country have been hit by the drought, which began in November. About 10.3 million hectares of crops are threatened, and more than 90 percents of those areas are wheat-growing regions in the north. Over 4 million people and 2 million livestock have been left without adequate drinking water.

In drought-stricken areas, authorities are making all-out efforts to alleviate the water shortage and ensure drinking water for all people and livestock.

In Anhui province, new technology and irrigation equipment is being used on over one million hectares of farmland. Cloud seeding to produce artificial rain is also planned.