Statistics released by the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters shows that till June 8, the area of arable land suffering from drought was 156 million mu (25.6 million acres), which was much more serious than during normal years.

The crop drought area was 97.06 million mu (16 million acres); the area of paddy fields short of water was 6.33 million mu (1.04 million acres); the non-irrigated farmland short of seedlings was 57.41 million mu (9.46 million acres).

There were 7.34 million people and 6.75 million heads of livestock temporarily short of drinking water.

The drought in northeast China and east Inner Mongolia has deteriorated as a result of no efficient rainfall.

The headquarters has sent a work group to direct local anti-drought work. Recently, it discussed with the Ministry of Finance to grant a large amount of subsidies to the drought-hit areas.

Statistics shows that up to June 8, the total affected area of arable land in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin and Hei Longjiang were 129 million mu (21.2 million acres), which makes up 83 per cent of the drought-hit area all over China.

By People's Daily Online