How to transform low- and medium-yield fields in arid regions? Zhang Zhengbin on tapping the potential of agricultural production
Zhang Zhengbin, researcher at the Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. In recent years, foreign grain export prices have been low, Chinese agricultural product prices are approaching the "ceiling" while the "floor" of production costs keeps rising; the burden of state agricultural subsidies is unbearable
Zhang Zhengbin, researcher at the Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
In recent years, foreign grain export prices have been low, Chinese agricultural product prices are approaching the “ceiling” while the “floor” of production costs keeps rising; the burden of state agricultural subsidies is unbearable and the efficiency of grain production keeps declining; grain production capacity is falling in the rain- and heat-abundant regions of the south, while the cost of grain production keeps rising in the water-scarce regions of the north; environmental pollution in the main grain-producing areas of the three major eastern plains keeps worsening, and the potential of dryland agriculture in the west remains untapped - the “eightfold squeeze” continues to intensify. China's food security situation is severe, and accelerating the transformation of the agricultural development model is imperative.
Among China's cultivated land, irrigated and dryland areas each account for half. There are 900 million mu of irrigated, high-yield and stable-yield areas, mainly distributed east of the Hu Huanyong population line (Heihe-Tengchong), in the semi-humid Northeast, North China and the humid middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River - the three major plain regions. These form China's first granary, the stabilizer of China's food security, safeguarding 60%-70% of China's grain production capacity. The 900 million mu of dryland accounts for 64% of the country's low- and medium-yield fields (1.4 billion mu), mostly distributed in the arid and semi-arid regions west of the Hu Huanyong population line. This is the fluctuating zone of China's food security, a region severely hit by disaster-induced production cuts in disaster years and the main source of increases in total grain output in bumper years. It should be China's second granary and is the region with the greatest potential for China's agricultural development.
How to further transform low- and medium-yield fields in arid regions and tap the potential of agricultural production through scientific and technological support, inter-basin water transfer projects such as the South-to-North Water Diversion, and new technologies for efficient water resource utilization and water-saving agriculture on dryland is an important task for China now and in the future. In this regard, the author puts forward the following five suggestions:
First, it is suggested that during the 13th Five-Year Plan a national science and technology major project, the “Second Granary Science and Technology Project for Low- and Medium-Yield Fields”, be established. China's 400 million mu of high-yield areas, the first granary, need sustained scientific, technological and economic investment to maintain high and stable yields, but their high-yield potential is limited and the pressure of environmental pollution is great. However, the 800 million mu of low- and medium-yield farmland, the second granary, requires less investment, yields quick results and has great potential. Therefore, it is suggested that during the 13th Five-Year Plan, drawing on the model of the water-saving and grain-increasing action launched during the 12th Five-Year Plan in the four northeastern provinces and regions with an investment of 38 billion yuan, the State Council should lead and join forces with the National Development and Reform Commission (overall project deployment), China Development Bank (project loans), the Ministry of Finance (matching funds), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (water resources and agricultural macro strategy), the Ministry of Water Resources (water transfer project design), the Ministry of Science and Technology (science and technology for increasing grain and efficiency), the Ministry of Agriculture (development of reserve cultivated land), the western provincial governments and other departments to, while supporting the science and technology project for bumper grain harvests (first granary), additionally establish the national science and technology major project, the “Second Granary Science and Technology Project for Low- and Medium-Yield Fields”, so as to safeguard China's food security and achieve sustainable development.
Second, accelerate water conservancy construction in low- and medium-yield field areas. As the saying goes, whether there is a harvest or not depends on water, and whether the harvest is large or small depends on fertilizer. Water is the number one limiting factor determining high crop yields and food security. Accelerating water conservancy construction in the 900 million mu of dryland low- and medium-yield field areas is the key to tapping the production potential of the second granary. Following the principle of proceeding from the easy to the difficult, the key areas for treatment are, first, the warm, semi-humid areas with two crops a year but dominated by dryland farming, represented by the northern Huaihe Plain in the southern Huang-Huai region. Second, the semi-arid Loess Plateau region, which, with climate warming, is changing from one crop a year to two crops a year. Third, the Northeast region, where, with climate warming, production potential has markedly increased, the planted area has markedly expanded, and one crop a year is grown. Finally, the arid regions such as Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia, where water shortages and agricultural production increases should be addressed by water transfer via the Great Western Line.
Third, it is suggested that while implementing the Silk Road Economic Belt strategy proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the construction of water transfer projects in the arid and semi-arid regions of the west, the transformation of low- and medium-yield fields, and the development of modern agriculture should be implemented as a scientific and technological development strategy, so as to provide food security for the development of the Belt and Road, expand agricultural product trade, improve economic efficiency, and drive the impoverished regions of the west toward moderate prosperity.
Fourth, increase the intensity of agricultural science and technology investment in low- and medium-yield field areas. At present, most agricultural science and technology investment is concentrated in the main grain-producing areas, namely high-yield areas, while investment in low- and medium-yield fields is relatively small. As a result, low- and medium-yield field areas rely on the weather for their harvest and practice extensive cultivation with low yields, and their production potential has not been brought into play. It is suggested that investment in water conservancy, science and technology, high-standard farmland construction, and agricultural machinery in low- and medium-yield field areas be strengthened, which can rapidly develop the production potential of low- and medium-yield fields.
Fifth, scientifically classify and develop science and technology support investment to guide low- and medium-yield fields. In transforming medium-yield areas into high-yield areas, the successful experience of the science and technology project for bumper grain harvests organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology can be integrated and applied. In the process of upgrading and transforming low-yield areas into medium-yield areas, new technological innovation and research and development are still needed to overcome different types of low-yield obstacle factors. Because the types of low- and medium-yield fields differ, the difficulties of treatment also differ, so relevant technologies must be scientifically researched and developed by category, and methods for transforming low- and medium-yield fields in different regions must be guided by category. The western region should, in accordance with local conditions, while stabilizing grain development, develop economic forests and fruit trees, vegetables, Chinese medicinal herbs, flowers, grassland animal husbandry, aquaculture and other characteristic agriculture, driving the masses to increase production and income.
In short, at present the increase in China's total grain output has already shifted from relying on expanding area to raising yield per unit area and pursuing green, quality-improving and efficiency-enhancing development, which requires even stronger scientific and technological support. At the same time, for China to achieve balanced development between east and west and common prosperity between north and south, to develop the Belt and Road, and to break through the Hu Huanyong Line, it is necessary, while doing a good job with the first granary of high-yield farmland areas, to accelerate the construction of water transfer projects in the west and promote the transformation of the second granary of low- and medium-yield fields, so as to tap the production potential of Chinese agriculture, safeguard China's food security, and drive China's sustained economic development as well as green development and ecological civilization construction.
In recent years, foreign grain export prices have been low, Chinese agricultural product prices are approaching the “ceiling” while the “floor” of production costs keeps rising; the burden of state agricultural subsidies is unbearable and the efficiency of grain production keeps declining; grain production capacity is falling in the rain- and heat-abundant regions of the south, while the cost of grain production keeps rising in the water-scarce regions of the north; environmental pollution in the main grain-producing areas of the three major eastern plains keeps worsening, and the potential of dryland agriculture in the west remains untapped - the “eightfold squeeze” continues to intensify. China's food security situation is severe, and accelerating the transformation of the agricultural development model is imperative.
Among China's cultivated land, irrigated and dryland areas each account for half. There are 900 million mu of irrigated, high-yield and stable-yield areas, mainly distributed east of the Hu Huanyong population line (Heihe-Tengchong), in the semi-humid Northeast, North China and the humid middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River - the three major plain regions. These form China's first granary, the stabilizer of China's food security, safeguarding 60%-70% of China's grain production capacity. The 900 million mu of dryland accounts for 64% of the country's low- and medium-yield fields (1.4 billion mu), mostly distributed in the arid and semi-arid regions west of the Hu Huanyong population line. This is the fluctuating zone of China's food security, a region severely hit by disaster-induced production cuts in disaster years and the main source of increases in total grain output in bumper years. It should be China's second granary and is the region with the greatest potential for China's agricultural development.
How to further transform low- and medium-yield fields in arid regions and tap the potential of agricultural production through scientific and technological support, inter-basin water transfer projects such as the South-to-North Water Diversion, and new technologies for efficient water resource utilization and water-saving agriculture on dryland is an important task for China now and in the future. In this regard, the author puts forward the following five suggestions:
First, it is suggested that during the 13th Five-Year Plan a national science and technology major project, the “Second Granary Science and Technology Project for Low- and Medium-Yield Fields”, be established. China's 400 million mu of high-yield areas, the first granary, need sustained scientific, technological and economic investment to maintain high and stable yields, but their high-yield potential is limited and the pressure of environmental pollution is great. However, the 800 million mu of low- and medium-yield farmland, the second granary, requires less investment, yields quick results and has great potential. Therefore, it is suggested that during the 13th Five-Year Plan, drawing on the model of the water-saving and grain-increasing action launched during the 12th Five-Year Plan in the four northeastern provinces and regions with an investment of 38 billion yuan, the State Council should lead and join forces with the National Development and Reform Commission (overall project deployment), China Development Bank (project loans), the Ministry of Finance (matching funds), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (water resources and agricultural macro strategy), the Ministry of Water Resources (water transfer project design), the Ministry of Science and Technology (science and technology for increasing grain and efficiency), the Ministry of Agriculture (development of reserve cultivated land), the western provincial governments and other departments to, while supporting the science and technology project for bumper grain harvests (first granary), additionally establish the national science and technology major project, the “Second Granary Science and Technology Project for Low- and Medium-Yield Fields”, so as to safeguard China's food security and achieve sustainable development.
Second, accelerate water conservancy construction in low- and medium-yield field areas. As the saying goes, whether there is a harvest or not depends on water, and whether the harvest is large or small depends on fertilizer. Water is the number one limiting factor determining high crop yields and food security. Accelerating water conservancy construction in the 900 million mu of dryland low- and medium-yield field areas is the key to tapping the production potential of the second granary. Following the principle of proceeding from the easy to the difficult, the key areas for treatment are, first, the warm, semi-humid areas with two crops a year but dominated by dryland farming, represented by the northern Huaihe Plain in the southern Huang-Huai region. Second, the semi-arid Loess Plateau region, which, with climate warming, is changing from one crop a year to two crops a year. Third, the Northeast region, where, with climate warming, production potential has markedly increased, the planted area has markedly expanded, and one crop a year is grown. Finally, the arid regions such as Xinjiang, Gansu and Ningxia, where water shortages and agricultural production increases should be addressed by water transfer via the Great Western Line.
Third, it is suggested that while implementing the Silk Road Economic Belt strategy proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the construction of water transfer projects in the arid and semi-arid regions of the west, the transformation of low- and medium-yield fields, and the development of modern agriculture should be implemented as a scientific and technological development strategy, so as to provide food security for the development of the Belt and Road, expand agricultural product trade, improve economic efficiency, and drive the impoverished regions of the west toward moderate prosperity.
Fourth, increase the intensity of agricultural science and technology investment in low- and medium-yield field areas. At present, most agricultural science and technology investment is concentrated in the main grain-producing areas, namely high-yield areas, while investment in low- and medium-yield fields is relatively small. As a result, low- and medium-yield field areas rely on the weather for their harvest and practice extensive cultivation with low yields, and their production potential has not been brought into play. It is suggested that investment in water conservancy, science and technology, high-standard farmland construction, and agricultural machinery in low- and medium-yield field areas be strengthened, which can rapidly develop the production potential of low- and medium-yield fields.
Fifth, scientifically classify and develop science and technology support investment to guide low- and medium-yield fields. In transforming medium-yield areas into high-yield areas, the successful experience of the science and technology project for bumper grain harvests organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology can be integrated and applied. In the process of upgrading and transforming low-yield areas into medium-yield areas, new technological innovation and research and development are still needed to overcome different types of low-yield obstacle factors. Because the types of low- and medium-yield fields differ, the difficulties of treatment also differ, so relevant technologies must be scientifically researched and developed by category, and methods for transforming low- and medium-yield fields in different regions must be guided by category. The western region should, in accordance with local conditions, while stabilizing grain development, develop economic forests and fruit trees, vegetables, Chinese medicinal herbs, flowers, grassland animal husbandry, aquaculture and other characteristic agriculture, driving the masses to increase production and income.
In short, at present the increase in China's total grain output has already shifted from relying on expanding area to raising yield per unit area and pursuing green, quality-improving and efficiency-enhancing development, which requires even stronger scientific and technological support. At the same time, for China to achieve balanced development between east and west and common prosperity between north and south, to develop the Belt and Road, and to break through the Hu Huanyong Line, it is necessary, while doing a good job with the first granary of high-yield farmland areas, to accelerate the construction of water transfer projects in the west and promote the transformation of the second granary of low- and medium-yield fields, so as to tap the production potential of Chinese agriculture, safeguard China's food security, and drive China's sustained economic development as well as green development and ecological civilization construction.