Drought Hits North China Province

The ongoing drought in north China's Shanxi Province is taking its toll on agricultural development and the daily life of local people.

A total of 313,000 hectares of wheat have now been hit by the drought, accounting for nearly one-third of the province's total, according to statistics from the provincial flood control and drought relief office.

Farmers in central and northern Shanxi have been forced to postpone spring planting.

At present, nearly three million people and 280,000 head of livestock in the province do not have enough water.

Local sources say that more than 60 percent of the soil in Shanxi lacks water, and the water levels in local rivers and reservoirs has dropped sharply.



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