Farmers clear a field of dead crops in Zhaoyang District of Zhaotong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Aug. 23, 2011. A lingering drought has withered up almost 220,000 hectares of crops and dried up 15 rivers in Zhaotong, leaving at least 190,000 people and 28,000 livestock short of drinking water. [Xinhua/Chen Haining]