December 27, 2010

Henan's drought threatens China's wheat production

Drought conditions are worsening in Henan, China's largest grain-producing province, threatening a major source of the country's winter wheat production.

Henan accounts for a third of China's winter wheat acreage, which in turn accounts for 90% of the following summer's grain harvest. The drought threatens to thwart the central government's vow to raise summer grain output.

"We haven't seen any rain in months," said Wang, an official with the Henan Meteorological Bureau.

Drought conditions in 51 areas in the province are at or worse than historical levels, and strong wind has accelerated water loss from soil, according to Henan provincial media reports.

Wang said the bureau is preparing to fire rain-making projectiles, a last-resort measure that does not always guarantee rainfall.