China's anti-drought authority is demanding more efforts in fighting the ongoing dry spell. The body also warns of drought expansion as many regions continue to experience high temperatures and low rainfall. The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing a level-three emergency response.
In Northeast China's Liaoning Province, farmers are suffering from the worst drought in 60 years. People in Chaoyang County have struggled with arid conditions for 70 days. Land normally brimming with corn has been reduced to little, or even no, production.
To cut losses to a minimum, local farmers collect corn stalks to feed livestock. Some farmers are also working overtime to set up green houses.
Xue Yanhua, a Liaoning farmer, said, "Although our corn has no production, we'll plant tomatoes in green houses. We hope we can recover the losses after Spring Festival."
This year, farmers can receive reimbursements for their losses from an agricultural insurance program.
Zhao Guoqing, a Liaoning farmer, said, "I paid 25 yuan for a third of a hectare and got over 700 yuan in reimbursement."
Liaoning province for the first time insured over one-million hectares of land for four crops. The total insurance premium is up to 470-million yuan, which is expected to cover 80 percent of the expenses.
Meanwhile, more than 70 percent of this autumn's crops will have to come from non-drought areas. The Agricultural Ministry is requesting stronger management, ensured output, and a big focus on insect prevention.
Zhang Dejie, a Anhui farmer, said, "This year, pesticide spraying will be carried out by special teams. We won't have to worry about this by ourselves."
The Ministry of Agriculture says the next two months are a critical time for autumn crops. It concludes that governments at all levels should implement crop management procedures to ensure as much output as possible.
(CCTV August 24, 2009)
