The prolonged drought has added to the misery in rural areas
Nearly half of China's winter crop – some 10m hectares (24m acres) of wheat and rape seed – are also under threat. China's drought relief office called it an event "rarely seen in history." China faces droughts and floods annually but has seen a recent increase in extreme weather conditions. The Chinese authorities say the current drought is expected to continue as no rain has been forecast in the affected areas for at least 10 days.
The official China Daily newspaper, citing meteorological authorities, said Henan had recorded its worst drought since 1951, going 105 consecutive days without rain. Much of China's farming still relies on rainfall as many of its farming communities have a poor irrigation system.
The BBC's China analyst Shirong Chen says the prolonged drought has added to the misery in rural areas where millions of migrant workers have lost their jobs as a result of the global economic downturn.
The current drought is crippling not only the country’s best wheat farmland, but also the wells that provide clean water to industry and to millions of people.
Catholic farmers worry as drought hits northern China
GAOCHENG, China (UCAN) -- Catholics in Hebei province, northern China, have been busy irrigating their farms as the Year of the Ox began with an unusual winter drought threatening to destroy their crops.
Lack of water has ruined this year’s harvest in Xiaochang'an village of Hebei province in China.
Xiaochang'an villagers say the drought is "very serious" and their wheat fields now look "sparse and desolate." The village lies near the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang. Xiaochang'an parish, part of Zhengding diocese, has 1,800 Catholics.
Li pointed out that in years of good harvests, villagers are able to live off their crops and even have extra to sell.
The central government announced on February 5 that it would earmark 300 million yuan in emergency relief funds for local governments, in addition to 100 million yuan previously allocated, according to a China Daily report on February 7.
The official China Daily newspaper, citing meteorological authorities, said Henan had recorded its worst drought since 1951, going 105 consecutive days without rain. Much of China's farming still relies on rainfall as many of its farming communities have a poor irrigation system.
The BBC's China analyst Shirong Chen says the prolonged drought has added to the misery in rural areas where millions of migrant workers have lost their jobs as a result of the global economic downturn.
The current drought is crippling not only the country’s best wheat farmland, but also the wells that provide clean water to industry and to millions of people.
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Catholic farmers worry as drought hits northern China
GAOCHENG, China (UCAN) -- Catholics in Hebei province, northern China, have been busy irrigating their farms as the Year of the Ox began with an unusual winter drought threatening to destroy their crops.
Lack of water has ruined this year’s harvest in Xiaochang'an village of Hebei province in China.Xiaochang'an villagers say the drought is "very serious" and their wheat fields now look "sparse and desolate." The village lies near the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang. Xiaochang'an parish, part of Zhengding diocese, has 1,800 Catholics.
Li pointed out that in years of good harvests, villagers are able to live off their crops and even have extra to sell.
The central government announced on February 5 that it would earmark 300 million yuan in emergency relief funds for local governments, in addition to 100 million yuan previously allocated, according to a China Daily report on February 7.
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