Authorities in east China's Jiangxi Province have taken a series of drought relief measures to ensure irrigation for crops as a large swathe of farmland across the province continues to suffer from a prolonged dry spell.

In recent weeks, the Jiangxi Meteorological Observatory has issued alerts for high temperatures as the mercury climbs in excess of 40 degrees Celsius in many places, such as Ganzhou City and Jiujiang City. Temperatures have consistently exceeded 38 degrees Celsius in dozens of counties, resulting in over 95 percent of these affected areas experiencing severe drought.

In Fuzhou City, local authorities have been drilling for water and opening pumping stations near the affected croplands in a battle to alleviate drought, which has affected over 11,000 hectares of late-season rice.

The intervention has proved timely for farmers in Fuzhou's drought-hit Weishangqiao County, with the restored water supply helping to rescue their rice.

"We are all very happy. Now that the water from the well has come out, our fields can be saved from drought. With this water supply, we will embrace a harvest of rice," said Hu Guosong, a local villager.

Meanwhile, in Wuning County of Jiujiang City, most mountain ponds and reservoirs have dried up and are unable to release water for irrigation purposes.

But the county's cracked farmland that resulted from drought is now being eased thanks to a total of 191 irrigation stations along the Xiu River and nearby reservoirs which are working around the clock in a bid to ensure a respectable harvest after a difficult summer.

Wuning County has sent water pumps and pipes to aid the irrigation process as it looks to protect more than 5,000 hectares of its mid- and late-season rice through this water transfer procedure.

The challenging conditions are set to continue, however, with Jiangxi expected to see a continuation of this hot weather with minimal precipitation in most parts of the province, according to the local meteorological department.

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