China's high-efficiency water-saving irrigation area will increase by more than 20 million mu this year
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 24 (Reporters Yu Wenjing Chen Mengyang) - To consolidate the foundation of food security and make scientific use of precious water resources, China will speed up the construction of farmland water conservancy this year, adding more than 20 million mu of high-efficiency water-saving irrigation area.
This was learned by the reporters on the 24th from the Ministry of Water Resources. In recent years, Chinese agriculture, starting from the high point of “eleven consecutive increases”, has faced major challenges such as tightening “red light” constraints on resources and the environment.
Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said that strengthening farmland water conservancy construction is an important way to enhance the capacity for sustainable agricultural development. Guided by accelerating the transformation of the agricultural development model, we must fully implement regional large-scale high-efficiency water-saving irrigation initiatives, vigorously promote water-saving irrigation technologies such as sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, micro-irrigation and pipeline water conveyance, and promote economical, intensive and efficient use of water resources.
It is understood that this year China will complete within the year the planned investment tasks for the renovation and upgrading of 40 large irrigation districts, 200 medium-sized irrigation districts and 40 large irrigation and drainage pumping stations. We will fully complete the Northeast action to save water and increase grain output, and accelerate the implementation of water-saving and efficiency-increasing measures in the Northwest, water-saving and extraction-reducing measures in North China, and water-saving and emission-reducing measures in the South. We will speed up the construction of key counties for small-scale farmland water conservancy, and focus on solving the “last mile” problem of farmland irrigation.
Chen Lei said that we must innovate the institutional mechanisms for rural water conservancy development. We will implement the local administrative chief responsibility system for farmland water conservancy construction, and through policy measures such as rewards instead of subsidies, subsidies after construction, project support and credit support, mobilize farmers' enthusiasm to participate in farmland water conservancy construction. We will explore property rights systems and construction management models suited to the characteristics of farmland water conservancy projects, and encourage farmers' water user cooperative organizations and new agricultural operating entities to undertake the construction and management and protection of farmland water conservancy projects. We will strengthen the capacity building of grassroots water conservancy service institutions, encourage farmers' water user cooperative organizations to develop into farmers' water conservancy specialized cooperatives, and cultivate specialized service teams for flood control and drought relief, irrigation and drainage, and rural water supply.
It is understood that China will take the comprehensive reform of agricultural water pricing as an important breakthrough for agricultural water conservation and accelerate its advancement. We will clarify agricultural water rights, strictly implement total agricultural water use control and quota management, improve water metering facilities, and while ensuring basic water demand within the quota, apply progressive surcharges for water use exceeding the quota. Through measures such as promoting water-saving irrigation, renovating terminal canal systems and adjusting planting structures, we will establish a precise subsidy system for agricultural water use and a water-saving incentive mechanism, and mobilize farmers' enthusiasm to support the reform.