Large-scale irritation efforts and rainfall have brought moderate relief to some drought-stricken areas over this past week. Now farmers and agricultural experts are switching their focus to farmland management to try to protect their summer harvest.

Now farmers and agricultural experts are switching their focus to farmland management to try to protect their summer harvest.

China's drought-relief campaign is finally achieving some positive results. With the added blessing of moderate rainfalls, crops are turning green and the drought has been alleviated.

The Ministry of Agriculture reported on the improved situation at a press conference on Thursday, and also warned that difficulties still remain.

Wei Chaoan, Vice MInister of MInistry of Agriculture, said, "By Wednesday, the area of wheat-crops hit by the drought was reduced by a quarter. But nearly 40 percent of wheat crops were still affected by the drought."

The ministry said the drought damaged the wheat at a critical time, just as it was sprouting. But if proper anti-drought measures are in place, the damage can be limited...and there will still be a chance for a good harvest this summer.

Governments have dispatched more skilled staff to assist farmers who are being instructed on drought relief dos and don'ts so as to best protect their crops.

In the hard-hit northern Hebei Province, irrigation in its western mountainous area is now limited. An official explains why.

Jiang Zhongcheng, Deputy Head of Shahouji village, said, "Because the temperature is still low, large scale irrigation might freeze the crops. It should only be done in late March and early April."

Meanwhile, in the central Henan Province, which provides a quarter of the country's total summer grain production, fire-fighting equipment is being employed to irrigate crops using underground water reserves.

Other major wheat-growing provinces are taking measures to increase water reserves which will be used to reduce crop losses as much as possible.

(CCTV February 16, 2009)