[Voiceover] Leaves are curled and yellowing. Plants are more than a meter shorter than healthy corn at this stage. This is a cornfield in Shangcai county, Central China's Henan province. It's all because of the drought. Shangcai county planted about 600 square kilometers of corn this year. The crops are now in a critical stage, requiring ample water and nutrients. Prolonged heat and dryness could affect pollination, leading to lower yields. But it is not the only place that has been affected by the drought. [Soundbite] Yang Yajun, Director of Grain Crops Dept., Henan Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs: "41 percent of the monitoring stations across the province have reported severe or worse meteorological drought, with some areas reaching extreme drought levels." [Voiceover] In Hanzhai Town, farmers are carrying out their fourth round of irrigation. Black pipes deliver water and nutrients directly to the roots, controlled by a smart terminal. [Soundbite] Bai Hanli, Farmer: "With this system, water and fertilizer go exactly where the roots are. It saves 30–40 percent more water than flood irrigation, and it does a better job." [Voiceover] To fight the drought, Zhumadian has deployed 450 agricultural technicians to guide farmers in timely watering and field management. [Soundbite] Xie Weihua, Deputy Director of Agricultural Technology Center, Shangcai County Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau: "We lower field temperature and humidity to secure pollination, spray fertilisers to boost drought resistance, and prevent corn diseases—all in one go." [Voiceover] Water authorities have released more than 900 million cubic meters from major irrigation zones and rivers to replenish fields. To prepare for sudden weather shifts, Henan has also linked more than 110,000 kilometers of rural canals to improve both drought relief and flood control—aiming to secure a stable autumn harvest. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]