China’s looming food crisis- drought crippling wheat production

January 24, 2011 – BEIJING – “A prolonged dry spell in parts of northern, central and eastern China is threatening both crops and water supplies, Chinese state media says. Shandong province is experiencing its driest weather for 60 years. Half the wheat-growing land there is affected, while almost a quarter of a million people face drinking water shortages, the China Daily said. Beijing has also been experiencing its longest dry spell for more than 30 years, another state daily said. The Chinese capital has had no significant rainfall for three months, the Beijing Times reported. Analysts say this drought is likely to put further pressure on food prices, which have been rising sharply for months. In Shandong, many areas had seen no rain for four months, the provincial water bureau said. Fire trucks were being used to deliver water to 240,000 people and 107,000 livestock. The northern provinces of Shanxi and Hebei have also experienced lower than average rainfall, while the central province of Henan is facing drought.” –BBC