Devastating Droughts Stunt Crops, Threaten Autumn Harvests

Soaring temperatures and scant rain have stunted agricultural output and killed livestock in southern China and are now threatening farmers’ autumn harvests.

As much as 3.2 million hectares of arable land across 10 provincial-level areas is parched due to droughts, as of Aug. 22, according to state media Xinhua News Agency. Around 3.4 million people and 580,000 large livestock have also been affected by water shortages.