Environmental Degradation and Dryland Agro-Technologies in Northwest China (eBook)

Chapter Two

2.Conservation Farming Systems and Management Options in China

2.1Background of Conservation Farming Efforts in China

2.1.1History of Soil and Water Conservation

The history of soil and water conservation in China dates back to 1952 when a government decree was issued for drought prevention and soil conservation in order to establish sound and appropriate agriculture in the hilly and mountainous areas. A provisional conservation outline was issued by the State Council in 1957 and a conservation plan was prepared for the Yellow River Valley by the state authorities. Subsequently, various River Valley Authorities, operating at different levels have produced their own erosion control plans. Since 1970, soil and water conservation practices have been tested, demonstrated and disseminated in small watersheds (Xu Peng et al., 1990).

As a result of 40 years of soil and water conservation efforts about 7.3 million ha of the hillslope areas under cultivation have been terraced, while there are still 25.7 million ha of cultivated hillslopes which should either be terraced or planted to trees. However, due to natural, economic and technical limitations this cannot be done in the short term. There is no doubt that the farmers are capable of developing effective and sustainable conservation practices for the unterraced sloping land. This would effectively reduce soil erosion and increase crop yields (Shi Liren et al., 1990).

2.1.2Integrated Watershed Management

A method for integrated management of small watersheds was developed by the Ministry of Water Resources in 1980. This has seen an overall expansion in the number of small watersheds planned for conservation purposes. Regulations with regard to conservation works were issued in 1982, these decreed that activities related to surveying, planning and implementation of conservation programs should be undertaken by specialized conservation institutions, except in the case of the different valley authorities, who were to be responsible for conservation survey, planning and research work in their valley area. Following an instruction issued by the Ministry of Water Resources in 1984, the status of erosion in China has been determined through the use of remote sensing techniques, from which a national erosion map was to be compiled. Conservation sub-areas have been set up for planning purposes and these are used as the units for collecting basic conservation data for the national database. Data is being collected by each province (Xu Peng et al., 1990).

As of 1990, integrated conservation management plans had been developed and implemented in seven thousand small watersheds, throughout the country covering a total area of 200,000 km2. Where such small watershed management programs have taken place, agriculture has been improved and people’s living standards have been raised. During this period, integrated watershed management planning was being undertaken both nationwide and at the provincial level. Recognising that tasks associated with erosion control are undertaken at different levels, a country wide erosion control network was then established.

2.1.3Soil and Water Conservation Planning

Soil and water conservation planning in China is undertaken at either the macro or micro-level. Macro-level plans include national and provincial planning for large river valleys. Micro-level plans cover small watershed planning. A small watershed is defined as a catchment area covering 3 to 30 km2 (Xu Peng et al., 1990).

The following activities have been undertaken with regard to implementing a program of integrated watershed management:

1)Agreement has been reached according to an overall planning framework between the various agencies involved in conservation programs concerning division of tasks and areas for cooperative activities.

2)Conservation planning is undertaken for specific areas. This involves making rational use of the available soil, water, and vegetation resources and the proper demarcation of land for different uses e.g. agriculture, forestry and/or livestock production. Thus increasing the ecological and economic benefits for an area through improved planning.

3)Thirteen key areas for soil erosion control have been identified by the government covering a total area of about three thousand km2. These are the Wuding River Valley, Sanchuan River Valley, Huangfuchuan and Dingxi County which are all located in the Yellow River Catchment area; the lower reaches of Jin Sha River, Jia Lin River Basin, Three Gorge and Gezhouba reservoir area, Bijie region, Xingguo County and Longnan region, Yangtze River Valley; and the Liu River Basin which is located in Liao River Valley plus the Yongding River Basin, and Miyun reservoir area. So far improved small watershed management has been implemented over an area of 1000km2 (Xu Peng et al., 1990).

4)Efforts have been made to strengthen planning capabilities and to undertake proper research work. Fundamental conservation research is conducted by the Ministry of Water Resources and relevant institutes of the Academia Sinica and State Universities. The provincial research institutes are responsible for applied and basic research while the county level research stations undertake field testing and the development of extension recommendations. This way scientific research contributes to proper conservation planning.

5)Training of the technicians involved in implementing conservation programs is undertaken at different levels. National institutions are responsible for training professional staff. Provincial level agencies provide on the job training. The field extension workers/technicians receive training from their regional and county conservation offices. Meanwhile, farmers regularly exchange erosion control experiences among each other. This makes farmers more receptive to conservation planning.

6)Conservation targets are set by means of an individual household management responsibility system. Farm families are encouraged to take responsibility for improved management of a particular plot of land by entering into land use contracts. The overall approach for the integrated management of a particular small watershed is determined by the local conservation office, and farmers volunteer to implement the recommended watershed improvement measures. Usually these improvements are partly financed by the government e.g. free provision of seedlings and other planting materials, while the farm family is responsible for supplying the necessary labour. The cost of investment in the improvements is usually 30% from the government and 70% from the family. The government investment is financial while the family investment is in terms of time and labour. After implementation of the erosion control measures, the work is checked and approved by the technicians and the benefits derived from erosion control are attributed to the families efforts. This method combines responsibilities, with land use rights and benefits and thereby arousing farmers enthusiasm.

2.2Conservation Farming Systems and Management Options

In order to sustain and if not improve food production, the Chinese Government has encouraged farmers to adopt appropriate conservation technologies aimed at optimally utilizing available soil and water resources. These conservation strategies and management options are expected to:- minimize land degradation, reduce soil loss by water runoff and wind, limit the movement and depletion of soil nutrients and organic matter but also be compatible with existing land potential and traditional farming practices. These strategies and options have to be technically and economically feasible and also socially acceptable to the local people. The new farming practices must be closely knit within the existing fabric of traditional farming technologies like conservation tillage, ridge and furrow cultivation, mulching, farmyard manuring, tied ridging, mixed cropping and crop rotation. Additionally, conservation practices like tillage, terracing, cover cropping, intercropping, runoff saving and agroforestry have to be introduced through the demonstration and extension of adaptive and proven technologies.

In order to accomplish any feasible and sustainable area specific conservation strategies and management options, there are three key areas that must be strengthened to compliment any existing awareness among the people about the need to conserve soil and water resources. These are: Research, Training and Extension.

2.2.1Research on Conservation Farming Technologies

With growing population and an increasing claim on the land for construction purposes, land resources are getting more and more scarce. The government has therefore emphasized the need for soil and water conservation research and the corresponding need to improve responsible conservation organizations.

Primary responsibility for soil and water conservation work in China lies with the Ministry of Water Resources. But there are several senior institutes or stations involved in soil and water conservation research. These include:- the Northwest Institute of Soil and Water Conservation under Academia Sinica and the Ministry of Water Resources; Chengdu Institute of Mountain Disasters and Environment; and the Tianshua, Xifeng, and S Soil and Water Conservation Experimental Stations of the Yellow River Water Conservancy Committee(Shi Liren et...