Cloud seeding is underway over a desert in Alshaa Left Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Alshaa Left Banner in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region recently started a cloud seeding project over the Yavarai Desert to create rain and improve vegetation coverage.

The seeding this year will mainly cover the desert's northeastern area which is about 200 kilometers long and 3 to 10 km wide, said Liu Hongyi, head of the Alshaa Left Banner afforestation station.

Launched on Saturday, the project will last until the end of July.

An area that has been covered by previous cloud seeding operations in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region shows successful plant growth. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Cloud seeding projects are familiar to residents. Alshaa League, which administrates the banner, has carried out aerial seeding experiments since 1984 and gained success in afforestation with the method.

The seeding has become the most outstanding feature of the league's ecological construction and also a national demonstration of desertification control.

An area that has been covered by previous cloud seeding operations in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region shows successful plant growth. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Liu, the areas that had been covered by the cloud seeding projects in the past few years have become verdant with green grass, trees and plants.

For this year, the project will be done in line with sand stabilization work, to improve effectiveness, Liu said.

An area that has been covered by previous cloud seeding operations in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region shows successful plant growth. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]