Pingdingshan has implemented a Grade 3 emergency response to a drought that has hit many parts of the city.

To aid the famers, the Pingdingshan government committed 8.92 million yuan to purchase crop irrigation equipment. Reconstruction of Zhaoping reservoir also has been finished, which will help relieve drought conditions.

The Ministry of Agriculture reports that more than half of the 14 million hectares of wheat fields in eight provinces, from the east coast region to the inland region, have been affected. Henan, Anhui and Hebei provinces have been hit badly. More than 2.8 million farmers and 2.5 million livestock lack adequate supplies of drinking water.