A severe drought in southwest China, which local people say is the worst in a century, is forecast to linger till the start of the rainy season in May, according to two provincial meteorological stations.

The meteorological stations in Yunnan and Guizhou provinces made the forecast Wednesday saying widespread and substantial rainfall was not expected before May, although periods of light rainfall were likely in the second half of this month.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Sunday that the drought, which began in autumn last year, had affected 61.31 million mu (4.09 million hectares) of farmland in southwest China as of March 5.

About 32.95 million mu (2.20 million hectares) of that area was seriously damaged, according to the MOA.

The affected areas are in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces and Chongqing Municipality.

"The drought is the most severe in Guizhou's 100-year meteorological history. The parched farmland cannot be revived without substantial rainfall," said Xiang Hongqiong, director of the Guizhou provincial meteorological bureau.

"I have never experienced such a severe drought. The only well in our village has dried up. We are faced with a serious drinking water shortage," said Jiang Zefen, a 65-year-old villager in Banqiao Town, Liupanshui City of Guizhou.

Zhang Min, a villager in Puding County, Guizhou, said he has not seen a drop of water from his home's water tap since the end of January.

According to the Guizhou Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, emergency measures, such as digging wells and diverting water, have been taken to increase water supply. However, 3,480,000 people and 1,560,000 livestock are still suffering from drinking water shortages.

In Yunnan, similar measures have been taken to temporarily solve the drinking water problem for 7 million people. The province had earlier reported 7.4 million people were facing drinking water shortages.

"We have made artificial rain 93 times. But the efforts were in vain as there were seldom clouds in the sky," said Tian Nan, deputy director of Guizhou's weather modification bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2010)