Extended drought threatens China farmland

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The extended drought in China's north and northeast regions now threatens over 8 million hectares of farmland. Heeding requests from the country's drought-fighting authority that more be done to alleviate the situation, the oil and power industries have joined the campaign to bring some relief to parched villagers.

Zhangjiakou city, in Hebei Province, is experiencing its worst drought in half a century.

Over half of the arable land will not produce a harvest this year. Hundreds of thousand of people and livestock face a desperate shortage of drinking water.

Lakes have dried up, and grassland has withered.

Local authorities have declared an emergency. They have sent tankers to deliver water to villagers who have no other access to water, and agriculture experts to help save as much of the crops as possible.

To ensure an adequate fuel supply for the anti-drought effort,the country's oil producers have increased production and expanded deliveries to affected areas.

The power industry has also contributed.

Zhang Lianying from State Grid Corporation of China, said, "We have launched a response plan in five drought-hit provinces, and dispatched more power to ensure the drinking water supply."

The state grid has sent over 300 teams to drought-hit areas, and doubled the power supply to the worst-hit regions in Jinlin Province.