Persistent drought is threatening the spring plowing season across China, affecting 12 million hectares of arable land, 9.38 million people and livestock numbering 8.9 million, according to reports released by the State Flood-Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in Beijing yesterday.

In southern China, farmers are currently transplanting rice seedlings, while in the north the wheat crop is entering a critical stage of growth. All are under threat due to a prolonged dry spell since last autumn, according to the agency.

It has dispatched two teams of experts to drought-stricken provinces to help secure supplies of water for drinking and irrigation. Meanwhile, sources from the agency said they are consulting with the Ministry of Finance over this year's allocation of aid for the worst hit areas.

Vast stretches of land are desperately parched due to inadequate irrigation from dry rivers and reservoirs, according to local media in the affected areas.

Worse still is the lack of drinking water in a number of coastal provinces with millions left without a regular supply.

The southern province of Hainan, once a water-rich province with annual precipitation exceeding 1,400 mm, is in the throes of its worst drought in 50 years. There have been no typhoons since last autumn, worsening the situation.

Water levels in Hainan's 11 medium-sized reservoirs have reached dead water level, meaning no water can flow into surrounding farmland.

More than 930 small reservoirs and locally built reserves have dried up, affecting the drinking water supplies of about 900,000 people and 200,000 livestock. Over half the island province's crops lack water for irrigation.

Neighboring Guangdong Province is also suffering after being hit by a salt tide over winter. This occurs when saltwater washes up rivers from river mouths because of low water levels caused by drought.

In north China's Shanxi Province, drought is threatening at least 560,000 hectares of cropland. There is only 860 million cubic meters of water stored in major reservoirs there, 200 million cubic meters less than usual.

In the northwest province of Gansu, more than 350,000 people and 380,000 livestock do not have enough drinking water due to a lack of rain over the past two months.

Facing a worsening spring drought, central government has called on local authorities to do their utmost to take countermeasures to ensure a successful plowing season.

"Ensuring spring plowing against drought is of vital importance for China to stabilize this year's grain yield and help farmers increase their incomes," Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu said during a tour from March 23 to 27 through Hainan and Guangdong.

(China Daily April 4, 2005)