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Little respite from China's drought
Source: Xinhua |
February 7, 2009, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE worst drought in half a century in northern China will continue until next month, although it will be eased slightly by rainfall forecasted for the next 10 days, the China Meteorological Administration said yesterday.
In March, rainfall in most parts of the wheat-growing areas in northern China is expected to be close to normal levels or slightly less. However, the wheat crops in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces will continue to suffer, Xiao Ziniu, director of the National Climate Center under the CMA, said.
China declared the highest level of emergency on Thursday in response to the drought, which began in November.
About half, or 5.25 million hectares, of the affected wheat lands have been irrigated in the nation's eight wheat-growing provinces as of Thursday, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday.
The area of affected crops has expanded to 10.7 million hectares, while 4.37 million people and 2.1 million livestock are facing a drinking-water shortage, according to data released by the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
The scarcity of rain in some parts of the north and central provinces is the worst in recorded history, as the drought has spanned from autumn to winter - a weather trend not witnessed in years, according Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai. The situation in some areas is extremely severe, he said. Lack of rain has created a layer of dry soil three to 10 millimeters deep in many parts of northern China, Sun said.
As the drought will not be relieved in the short-run, more seedlings are likely to be killed as spring approaches, which could threatened the summer harvest.
MOA data showed more than 153,000 hectares of wheat seedlings in Henan, Anhui and Shandong provinces had perished.
Beneath a cloudless blue sky, the withered wheat grass barely six centimeters high slumped over gray, parched ground in Wei Liuding's field in Zhongmu County in Henan.
A spark would set the field alight when the field should be green. "I haven't seen such a severe drought in my life," said the 50-year-old farmer, dust curling around his feet.
At Wei's farm, the water in the well "has become lower and lower," he said. "Now I can only get water from 70 or 80 meters down." If the wheat grass doesn't get enough water, Wei won't have a harvest this summer. He will not be alone.
Data from the Development Research Center of the State Council, or the Cabinet, showed northern China produces 65 percent of the nation's crops but has only 35 percent of the water.
In March, rainfall in most parts of the wheat-growing areas in northern China is expected to be close to normal levels or slightly less. However, the wheat crops in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Henan and Anhui provinces will continue to suffer, Xiao Ziniu, director of the National Climate Center under the CMA, said.
China declared the highest level of emergency on Thursday in response to the drought, which began in November.
About half, or 5.25 million hectares, of the affected wheat lands have been irrigated in the nation's eight wheat-growing provinces as of Thursday, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday.
The area of affected crops has expanded to 10.7 million hectares, while 4.37 million people and 2.1 million livestock are facing a drinking-water shortage, according to data released by the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
The scarcity of rain in some parts of the north and central provinces is the worst in recorded history, as the drought has spanned from autumn to winter - a weather trend not witnessed in years, according Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai. The situation in some areas is extremely severe, he said. Lack of rain has created a layer of dry soil three to 10 millimeters deep in many parts of northern China, Sun said.
As the drought will not be relieved in the short-run, more seedlings are likely to be killed as spring approaches, which could threatened the summer harvest.
MOA data showed more than 153,000 hectares of wheat seedlings in Henan, Anhui and Shandong provinces had perished.
Beneath a cloudless blue sky, the withered wheat grass barely six centimeters high slumped over gray, parched ground in Wei Liuding's field in Zhongmu County in Henan.
A spark would set the field alight when the field should be green. "I haven't seen such a severe drought in my life," said the 50-year-old farmer, dust curling around his feet.
At Wei's farm, the water in the well "has become lower and lower," he said. "Now I can only get water from 70 or 80 meters down." If the wheat grass doesn't get enough water, Wei won't have a harvest this summer. He will not be alone.
Data from the Development Research Center of the State Council, or the Cabinet, showed northern China produces 65 percent of the nation's crops but has only 35 percent of the water.
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