Drought-plagued central China is now preparing for torrential rains, Reuters reports:
Rainfall of between 10-152 millimetres could hit China’s parched central provinces of Hunan, Anhui and Jiangxi, the China News website reported, citing local weather reports.
While the rain would replenish water supplies in the food-producing region, known locally as a “land of fish and rice”, it may not be enough to make up for the region’s 40-60 percent rain shortfall.
Farmers desperately need generous rainfall in the coming weeks, or the first of their two annual rice crops could wither and die, and more of the thousands of fish and crab farms could lose all their stock.
Anhui was forecast to have the highest rainfall of over 100 millimetres in 106 villages, and up to 152 millimetres near its Huangshan mountain. In Jiangxi, the rainfall was forecast to be over 50 millimetres, and between 10-24 millimetres for Hunan.
“It is strongly recommended that local governments and relevant authorities take emergency precautionary action against torrential rains,” China’s National Meteorological Centre was quoted as saying.
See also “China drought retreats after heavy rains” from Reuters.
