Academician Shi Yuanchun: Blind Area and Highlights in Agricultural Water Saving
Shi Yuanchun
Blind Area
Water-saving in agriculture is undoubtedly a national strategic goal, but it cannot simply be translated into farmers' personal goals. From the perspective of water use, farmers tend to prioritize convenience, effort, and cost. They often prefer flooding their fields without spending money or effort, unless the benefits of saving water outweigh the investment. In other words, if water conservation does not lead to increased income, it will not become a conscious action for farmers.
During the "Ninth Five-Year Plan," the country invested 25 billion yuan in improving water delivery systems, such as channel seepage prevention, pipeline irrigation, and sprinkler or micro-irrigation projects across more than 8,000 acres of farmland in 300 demonstration counties. However, the government took full control of project decision-making, policy formulation, funding, and implementation, resulting in a situation where "national funds, officials’ achievements, and farmers’ efforts" were all involved. While farmers benefited from these initiatives, their lack of awareness and active participation led to limited impact on technology adoption and income growth. More importantly, over one billion mu of farmland nationwide requires water-saving measures in different forms, but the government cannot sustainably fund all of them. The key lies in establishing a mechanism that makes farmers the main actors in water conservation, not just in model counties.
The construction of power stations and transmission grids is a government responsibility, while saving electricity is the concern of enterprises and households. Similarly, water supply and transfer projects are government tasks, and farmers should be the main actors in water conservation. However, unlike industrial energy-saving, farmers are typically disadvantaged in terms of capital, technology, and product value, making them the target of government support.
Another blind spot lies in the integration and quality of water-saving technologies. Sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, seepage prevention, and drought-resistant crops are commonly considered, but the real issue is the poor integration of these technologies. Many products suffer from high costs, low quality, and inadequate after-sales service. This reflects underdeveloped water-saving technology companies and an immature market system. If farmers are the main actors in water conservation, then water-saving technology companies must be the supporting force behind them.
Technological progress involves both quantitative improvements and qualitative breakthroughs. Currently, traditional water-saving technologies in China are still underdeveloped, and there is significant room for improvement and promotion. However, in formulating long-term development plans, there is a tendency to confuse traditional techniques with modern innovations. Ambiguity in goals and technical levels can hinder future breakthroughs and weaken the competitiveness of water-saving enterprises.
Highlights
From the analysis of blind spots, some bright spots emerge naturally, offering practical significance.
The first highlight is the interaction between water conservation and income increase. Based on Gansu’s experience, I proposed a model combining drip irrigation, simple greenhouses, high-value crops, and leading enterprises. In arid regions with annual rainfall between 300 to 500 mm, rainwater collection, drip irrigation, and high-value crops like fruits and flowers are integrated with market access. In Ningxia, the economic return per cubic meter of water can reach up to 20 yuan, showing the potential of this approach.
Crop layout and agricultural restructuring have successfully combined water conservation with income growth. For example, Zhangye Region in Gansu has restructured its agriculture around efficient water use, developing industries like solar greenhouses, wine grapes, and food processing. The proportion of grain, cash crops, and grass reached 30:50:20, with fruit industry output accounting for 45% of total agricultural output. This demonstrates a win-win scenario between water conservation and income growth.
To motivate farmers to save water, it is essential to overcome inertia and rely on national investments in demonstration projects. Integrating water conservation with agricultural restructuring and industrialization is crucial. If farmers see increased income, they will be more willing to invest in water-saving practices. However, the current obstacle is the lack of stable financial channels for agricultural restructuring and industrialization, as water concessions are often limited to irrigation projects only.
The second highlight is the role of water-saving technology companies. Farmers may be motivated, but the availability of appropriate technology and equipment is critical. These companies act as bridges between advanced technologies and practical applications, serving as new productive forces. In Xinjiang, the Construction Corps uses mechanized drip irrigation systems, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. With proper implementation, this technology can expand to large areas of cotton fields, demonstrating the integration and industrialization of water-saving solutions.
"If you want to do something well, you must first sharpen your tools." This ancient saying highlights the importance of having the right technology. To effectively implement water conservation, we need to focus on integrating and commercializing water-saving technologies. Enterprises in low-pressure pipelines, spray irrigation, dry area engineering, mechanical irrigation, covering materials, chemical-biological agents, and seed production all have great potential for growth.
The third highlight is the cutting-edge developments in water-saving technology. Over the past century, scientific progress has laid the foundation for current water-saving systems. Emerging technologies, such as biotechnology, will bring major breakthroughs, especially in improving crop water-use efficiency. Biological water conservation involves enhancing the physiological and genetic potential of plants, allowing higher yields with the same amount of water. This is a promising frontier in water-saving innovation.
Plastic film coverage has proven effective in water conservation, but long-term use has led to soil degradation. A technological breakthrough here would involve biodegradable plastics. In northern regions prone to spring droughts, advancements in biological and mechanized nursery and transplanting technologies are needed. Breakthroughs in drought-resistant chemical-biological agents could also improve crop resilience during dry periods.
Agricultural water conservation is not just a technical challenge but also a social and economic issue. It is a complex system, and the more complicated it is, the more blind spots exist. To address this, two key areas must be highlighted: first, the central role of farmers and the synergy between water conservation and income growth; second, the advancement and breakthroughs in water-saving technology. When the government sets the stage, and farmers, technology companies, and experts work together, the results will be more effective, and government funds will be used more efficiently.
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