August 14, 2006

Drought posing serious threats to China's agricultural production
 

China is facing the prospect of millions of acres in lost crops and dead animals as its drought-hit regions such as inner Mongolia and Sichuan province are fast running out of water, with some farms already sustaining themselves through provincial water trucks.

Across the country, more than six million acres of crops have been ruined - an area 21 percent higher than in previous years, according to the Times of London.

Water levels along China's longest river, the Yangtze river have fallen by more than ten metres these few weeks. Water levels in Chongqing, reached 3.5 metres, its lowest in a century.

The current drought has also left 17 million people across southwest China without access to clean drinking water.

Wen Jiabao, the Prime Minister, has called a special meeting and ordered officials in affected provinces to take urgent measures to reduce the impact on farmers.