The amount of land affected by drought in China's major wheat producing provinces has been reduced by more than 1.5 million hectares. According to Agriculture Ministry, the reduction is thanks in part to a series of measures the government has taken.

According to figures from China's drought relief department, 14 billion cubic meters of water has been delivered for irrigation in the drought-hit areas.

In Shandong province, a local official said the province may escape widespread damage if irrigation and rains replenish moisture in the parched soil.

However, the drought is far from over, as there's no sign of rainfall in the days to come in the drought affected areas. In addition, as temperatures climb in the spring, more moisture could be lost from the soil.