China's State Council, the nation's cabinet, pledged Thursday to step up efforts to fight the prolonged drought in the country's northern wheat-growing regions.

North China wheat-growing regions, including Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Shanxi and Jiangsu provinces, have received little rainfall since October last year.

The central government has already allocated 4 billion yuan (608 million U.S.dollars) for grain production and rural water conservation projects, according to a statement issued after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao.

According to the statement, the central coffer will allocate additional 2.2 billion yuan on drought-relief equipment, farm irrigation and drought-fighting supplies.

The central government also plans to spend 1.04 billion yuan to subsidize rural residents in drought-hit regions.