Inner Mongolia desert to grow 350 ha of rice

(ECNS) -- About 350 hectares of rice will be cultivated near sandy Bayannur, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. 

Bayannur is located on the edge of Ulan Buh, the eighth largest desert in China.

Usually, one ha of paddy rice needs 12,800 to 19,200 cubic meters of water, while rice grown in a desert only needs about 4,480 cubic meters of water, greatly saving on resources. 

Rice root can reach about 50 cm down into the sand, which helps prevent desertification.