Persistent drought is threatening the spring plowing season
across China, affecting 12 million hectares of arable land, 9.38
million people and livestock numbering 8.9 million, according to
reports released by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief
Headquarter in Beijing yesterday.
In southern China, farmers are currently transplanting rice
seedlings, while in the north the wheat crop is entering a critical
stage of growth. All are under threat due to a prolonged dry spell
since last autumn, according to the agency.
It has dispatched two teams of experts to drought-stricken
provinces to help secure supplies of water for drinking and
irrigation. Meanwhile, sources from the agency said they are
consulting with the Ministry of Finance over this year's allocation
of aid for the worst hit areas.
Vast stretches of land are desperately parched due to inadequate
irrigation from dry rivers and reservoirs, according to local media
in the affected areas.
Worse still is the lack of drinking water in a number of coastal
provinces with millions left without a regular supply.
The southern province of Hainan,
once a water-rich province with annual precipitation exceeding
1,400 mm, is in the throes of its worst drought in 50 years. There
have been no typhoons since last autumn, worsening the
situation.
Water levels in Hainan's 11 medium-sized reservoirs have reached
dead water level, meaning no water can flow into surrounding
farmland.
More than 930 small reservoirs and locally built reserves have
dried up, affecting the drinking water supplies of about 900,000
people and 200,000 livestock. Over half the island province's crops
lack water for irrigation.
Neighboring Guangdong
Province is also suffering after being hit by a salt tide over
winter. This occurs when saltwater washes up rivers from river
mouths because of low water levels caused by drought.
In north China's Shanxi
Province, drought is threatening at least 560,000 hectares of
cropland. There is only 860 million cubic meters of water stored in
major reservoirs there, 200 million cubic meters less than
usual.
In the northwest province of Gansu,
more than 350,000 people and 380,000 livestock do not have enough
drinking water due to a lack of rain over the past two months.
Facing a worsening spring drought, central government has called
on local authorities to do their utmost to take countermeasures to
ensure a successful plowing season.
"Ensuring spring plowing against drought is of vital importance
for China to stabilize this year's grain yield and help farmers
increase their incomes," Vice Premier Hui
Liangyu said during a tour from March 23 to 27 through Hainan
and Guangdong.
(China Daily April 4, 2005)
