Rural families in Southwest China's Yunnan province are facing food shortages because of the continuous drought, resulting in crops dying.

Last month's artificial rain has brought little relief to Yunnan province, as crops have already been severely affected by the region's prolonged drought.

Chen Lizhen, a 61-year-old farmer in Nanjian county, central Yunnan, is one of many families whose source of food has been affected by the drought.

There are five people in her family--herself, her three sons and a daughter-in-law. However, both her oldest son and his wife have gone to seek work in Guangdong province, because Chen does not have enough food, water or money to support the whole family.

At present, there are about 30,000 people in Nanjian county seeking jobs in other provinces in order to earn money and at the same time save water and food for their families. The strong head out while the old and weak remain back in the village.

Last week, she borrowed 50 kilograms of rice. The rice, when mixed with corn and potatoes, can feed her family of three for two months.

The seeds of rice, tobacco and corn that she planted this spring have failed to germinate because of the drought, she said.

In the past, she could earn 5,000 yuan each year by selling corn, tobacco and tea. This would be enough to buy rice to feed the family until September.

"But the crops have failed, and more than 200 yuan worth of seeds and fertilizer have been wasted due to the drought, and now I don't have the money to buy enough rice," Chen said, as she choked back sobs.

As water for irrigation mainly comes from rainfall, the shortage of rain has greatly affected planting.

The drought has also has affected the family's main income - tobacco and corn, which was planted in May.

The drought has caused food shortages of about 2,400 tons in Nanjian county. Local government could only aid by donating 200 tons of food, but there is still a shortfall of 2,200 tons, and this is a huge problem, according to a county official.

The food shortages began in April this year, and July, August, and September will be the worst months.