 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Beijing (AFP) Jan 21, 2011 China says it had earmarked about $15 billion in subsidies for millions of farmers who have been hit by a severe drought that has driven prices as the government tries to battle inflation. The dry spell in the north and south has affected about four million hectares (9.9 million acres), official figures show, and has been blamed for destroying crops. Farmers will receive 98.6 billion yuan, up 14 percent from a year earlier, to boost their incomes and reduce the cost of diesel, fertiliser and pesticides, the finance ministry said on its website late Thursday. Local authorities have been ordered to distribute the money before farmers start planting their crops in the spring, it said. Beijing has been trying to rein in soaring food prices, which have driven up inflation and strained household budgets. The consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, slowed in December from the previous month but analysts expect it to pick up again this month due to increased consumer spending for the Lunar New Year and cold temperatures. The index rose 4.6 percent on year in December, down from a two-year high 5.1 percent in November, but it was up 3.3 percent over the year, higher than Beijing's target.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation
US southwest could see 60-year drought: studyWashington (AFP) Dec 13, 2010 A worst-case scenario devised by US researchers shows that the American southwest could experience a 60-year stretch of heat and drought unseen since the 12th century. Researchers at the University of Arizona examined studies of temperature changes and droughts in the region over the past 1,200 years and used them to project future climate models in the hope that water resource managers coul ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
