SYDNEY - A devastating drought that has left Australian farmers struggling to stay afloat is set to persist despite widespread and significant rain last month, authorities have said. There was some welcome relief last month when "widespread (and)... significant rainfall" was recorded in parts of New South Wales, the state government said in its seasonal update late Friday. "We need more significant widespread rainfall in the coming weeks and months for agricultural recovery to commence and farmland to return to a productive state." Some 99.8 percent of the state remains in drought, officials added. In neighbouring Queensland, the government said last week that 57.4 percent of the state remains drought-affected.

Source: Bangkok Post September 09, 2018 01:30 UTC