No crops, no money, no food as Yunnan waits for rainfall

Drought-hit villages may face shortages due to lack of income

Some rural families in southwest China's Yunnan province may face food shortages if the drought persists, as their home rations can only support them for one to two months.

Li Zuquan, a 45-year-old farmer in Dahuangdi village in central Yunnan, is one of many who fear for his family's future food supply. He has only 30 kilograms of rice, packed in a dirty weaving bag.

His family of five people can rely on the rice for one month by mixing rice and corn, Li said.

The rice seeds that he planted this spring have failed to germinate because of the drought, he said.

In the past, he could earn 4,000 yuan ($586) each year by selling peas and horse beans to buy enough rice to feed his family until September.

"But the money for seed and fertilizer has been wasted this year due to the drought and I have no money to buy enough rice," Li said.

The drought also has impacted the family's main income - tobacco and corn, which is planted in May.

Those crops typically bring them about 6,000 yuan every year.

Li's family uses most of that income each year to buy rice the family's staple food after September.

"But this year, I cannot even afford to buy tobacco seedlings and farming chemicals," said Li, choked with sobs.

"If I can't plant tobacco, I might not be able to pay for food the whole year."

His 13-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son need tuition, too.


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