Rain forecasted for drought-stricken south
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China's meteorological authority said Monday that a front moving west to east is expected to bring rain to much of the country over the next 10 days, bringing much-need precipitation to the drought-hit south.
Rainfall in the country's southern regions and those along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, have seen between 20 to 50 percent less rain since April compared with the same period last year.
According to data from the country's drought-relief headquarters, 81.69 million mu (5.45 million hectares) of arable land was affected by drought as of Sunday, while 20.19 million mu of crops were affected.
The country's National Meteorological Center forecasts rainy weather for the country's major grain-producing areas with the southwestern and southern regions to see up to 120 millimeters of rainfall.
Earlier last week, drought-hit regions in the country's north received rain, easing the drought there, said Song Yingbo, a senior meteorological researcher on agriculture.
Song said that worst affected region was now the central province of Hubei and the northwestern Gansu Province. Less severe droughts are also plaguing Hunan and Guizhou provinces, in the country's south and southwest respectively.
