February 4, 2009
Drought in China hurting 43 percent of winter wheat
A harsh drought in northern China is affecting nearly 43 percent of the country's winter wheat crop, and causing US$234 million in damage in eastern China, state media said.
Six major grain producing provinces have received little rain since October, and the China Meteorological Administration is expecting no rain for the next 10 days, said the state media.
The Ministry of Agriculture has sent 12 expert teams to the drought-hit provinces of Henan, Anhui, Shandong, Shanxi, Gansu and Shaanxi.
The Ministry of Finance has also allocated US$14.6 million in emergency funding, while the annual RMB300 million (US$44 million) in agricultural subsidies will be paid earlier than usual, according to state media.
US$1 = RMB6.8266 (Feb 4)
