Premier Wen visits drought-hit Henan province

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-09-2009 08:56

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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for rapid and effective measures to stabilize grain production and increase farmers' incomes, as severe drought ravages China's vast wheat-growing regions.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (Front) waters wheat at Donggao  Village of Hongchang Township in Yuzhou City, central  China's Henan Province, Feb. 7, 2009. Premier Wen inspected  the anti-drought work in Henan, one of China's key wheat  producing regions, on Feb. 7-8.(Xinhua Photo)

 
The premier visited the worst-hit Henan province, where the drought is threatening grain production and drying up drinking water supplies.

Premier Wen Jiabao has paid another trip to rural areas. This time he saw first hand the severe challenges posed by China's worst drought in half a century.

The country's largest wheat-producing province is facing extreme water shortages. There has been no rain for 110 days in Henan province, and Premier Wen Jiabao witnessed the effects of the disaster in the worst hit village. He brought a message of confidence.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said, "We should have the confidence to overcome the drought and ensure a harvest. We should ensure that land which can be irrigated does produce crops, reduce losses for land which cannot yield crops, and try our best to increase the yield of areas with healthy seedlings."