The worst drought in 60 years has inflicted direct agricultural economic losses of 6.5 billion yuan ($952 million) on southwest China's Yunnan Province, a local official said on February 7.

The province has earmarked 389 million yuan ($57 million) for drought relief, said Zhou Yunlong, head of the provincial water resources bureau.

Efforts to date have helped temporarily ease drinking water shortages for 4.25 million people and 2.42 million livestock, along with irrigating 733,333 hectares of crops, Zhou said.

The drought that began in July 2009 left 4.9 million residents and 3.34 million large livestock with shortages of drinking water.