In Chongqing and eastern parts of the neighbouring province of Sichuan, more than 11 million hectares of cropland had been affected, Xinhua news agency reported.

The government was calling on residents to plant alternative crops such as potatoes to make up their losses, and in Chongqing's Nanchuan city, farmers who had planted more than 10 mu of land were being given 100 yuan (US$12.50) each in assistance. A mu is equal to one-sixth of an acre.

Despite efforts to dig wells in the area and create artificial rainfall, more than 17 million people were short of drinking water, Xinhua said, citing the state flood control and drought relief departments.

By contrast, a series of tropical storms and typhoons in the past two months have caused severe flooding in the south and east. In one county alone in Hunan province, almost 200 people died in floods triggered by tropical storm Bilis in July.

A study issued by Chinese climate scientists last year predicted that mean temperatures across China were likely to rise, bringing changes in rainfall, river flows and crop production.