China's Ministry of Agriculture said on Tuesday that lack of rainfall in major wheat-growing provinces has brought drought to 119 million mu (7.9 million hectares) of wheat farmland.

The figure was 100 million mu more than the same period last year.

Most of northern China suffered from lack of rain during this winter, and in some areas, the amount of rainfall is 70 to 90 percent less than average, said officials with the ministry.

More than half of the wheat farmland in Henan, Anhui and Shanxi provinces is suffering drought, said the official.

As drought harms crop's ability to weather the winter, the ministry has sent six expert teams to help farmers cope, and local governments have also organized similar instruction groups.

Also in freak weather, 1,003 kilometers of the Yellow River become ice-locked by Jan. 19, and 200 people from 27 families in Hukou of Shanxi Province suffered the effects of flooding as ice blocked the river Saturday night, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarter.

(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2009)