Drought threatens grain production
Source: Xinhua |
May 4, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
ALTHOUGH renowned as the "land of a thousand lakes," central China's Hubei Province has been hit by a spring drought that has hit grain production and disrupted drinking water supplies.
Around 150,000 people and 50,000 livestock have had difficulties getting drinking water and some 647,500 hectares of farmland have been affected.
The long drought has damaged Hubei's role as China's major grain and cotton producer, according to provincial Governor Wang Guosheng.
The nearby provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan - both major grain producers - have also been affected.
South China has seen a 50 percent fall in average precipitation since the start of this year, which has caused several major rivers and reservoirs to dry up. The drought has also hampered spring harvest efforts, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
"Forecasts are for even less rain in the coming days in Hubei. It is inevitable that we will see reductions in our grain output," said Wang.
Farmers in Jiangxi have had a tough time fighting the drought. "In more than half a century, I've never seen a drought so long that it prevents us from sowing new crops," said Tu Huaibao, a 61-year-old farmer living in the province's Huanhu Village.
According to Zhou Yuehua, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Meteorological Bureau's Wuhan climate center, the weather pattern known as "La Nina" is to blame. This causes lower sea surface temperatures, which affect precipitation levels.
Jiangxi's average rainfall for the last four months has only been 253 mm, 46 percent of the annual average level and the lowest level in more than 50 years, according to Jiangxi's Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
The drought has also disrupted water supplies in east China's Anhui Province.
Central China's Henan Province has also been plagued by the drought, with comparatively low rainfalls and high temperatures.
Guangdong, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous Region are also affected.
However, parts of Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong provinces have received rain since last Saturday.
Around 150,000 people and 50,000 livestock have had difficulties getting drinking water and some 647,500 hectares of farmland have been affected.
The long drought has damaged Hubei's role as China's major grain and cotton producer, according to provincial Governor Wang Guosheng.
The nearby provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan - both major grain producers - have also been affected.
South China has seen a 50 percent fall in average precipitation since the start of this year, which has caused several major rivers and reservoirs to dry up. The drought has also hampered spring harvest efforts, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
"Forecasts are for even less rain in the coming days in Hubei. It is inevitable that we will see reductions in our grain output," said Wang.
Farmers in Jiangxi have had a tough time fighting the drought. "In more than half a century, I've never seen a drought so long that it prevents us from sowing new crops," said Tu Huaibao, a 61-year-old farmer living in the province's Huanhu Village.
According to Zhou Yuehua, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Meteorological Bureau's Wuhan climate center, the weather pattern known as "La Nina" is to blame. This causes lower sea surface temperatures, which affect precipitation levels.
Jiangxi's average rainfall for the last four months has only been 253 mm, 46 percent of the annual average level and the lowest level in more than 50 years, according to Jiangxi's Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
The drought has also disrupted water supplies in east China's Anhui Province.
Central China's Henan Province has also been plagued by the drought, with comparatively low rainfalls and high temperatures.
Guangdong, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous Region are also affected.
However, parts of Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong provinces have received rain since last Saturday.
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