Ongoing drought affects 100 million ha farmland in China (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-08-16 20:55
BEIJING, August 16 (Xinhua) -- Scorching weather and continuous drought
across China have affected over 100 million hectares of farmland this summer,
latest statistics show.
China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Wednesday
that more than 40 million hectares are facing a severe drought. Crops on ten
million hectares of farmland have already withered.
Sustained high temperature and low summer rainfall have brought drought to
large parts of China this summer, said Tian Yitang, a headquarters official.
In the southwestern municipality of Chongqing and neighbouring Sichuan
province, it is the most severe drought in 50 years, said Tian.
The southern parts of China, usually rainy and humid in summer, have also
experienced drought this year, said Tian. Water levels in most rivers have
remained low.
The northwestern parts of the country, hit by drought most summers, are
suffering from searing heat and low rainfall this year as usual.
Tian said continuous droughts have left about 14 million people and 15
million livestock short of water.
Local governments have allocated more than US$300 million to help residents
fight the drought. On the hottest days, more than 30 million people are
mobilized each day to tap ground water, transport water tanks and improve water
conservation facilities.
The drought-relief efforts have solved water supply problems for more than 12
million people across China, Tian said.
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