The cost of drilling a new well isn’t economically feasible for many of the small farmers in the Central Valley being hammered by the state’s historic drought.

“You’re asking folks to come up with $30,000 or $40,000. That’s maybe what they’re making in a year,” said Blong Xiong, executive director of the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, which supports Asian businesses throughout the Central Valley.

“So, you’re asking them to invest a year’s worth of income on a property that they’re leasing year to year?”

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