BEIJING - Spring drought that had been plaguing South China was alleviated after a week-long rainfall, government sources said on Thursday.

The affected farmland shrank to 900,000 hectares by Wednesday from 1.33 million hectares a week ago, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said.

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Some 1.19 million people and 400,000 draught livestock are short of water, it said.

South China has experienced 50 percent less rainfall than usual since the start of this year, which has dried up major rivers and reservoirs in the region. The drought has also hampered spring ploughing efforts in South China, where many of the nation's major grain-producing areas are based.

Because of the rainfall, drought in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Fujian, Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces were relieved, but Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu provinces, as well as southern Yunnan province still face grim conditions due to inadequate precipitation, said Qiu Ruitian, deputy director of the office.

The headquarter asked authorities in different localities hit by drought to work to ensure water supplies for daily life of the people and the spring sowing work.