Pang Jufeng, member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC), vice president of Shaanxi Association of
Intellectual Circles and director of Institute of Earth Probe and
Information Technology under the Xi’an Petroleum College, proposed
to give more support to the construction of dry farming and water
saving facilities in Shaanxi Province at the ongoing fourth session
of the ninth CPPCC.
Shaanxi in northwest China suffers a serious water shortage. It
encounters a very serious drought almost every 10 years, and a
small one each year. Even in a rainy season, unexpected drought may
happen. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop dry
farming and water saving agriculture in the province.
The key to promote such agriculture is to improve the using rate of
natural rainfall, Pang said. At present, only 30 to 40 percent of
natural precipitations flow to rivers or penetrate into
underground, while a larger portion is evaporated. Through years of
research and practice, Shaanxi has accumulated experiences in water
saving suitable to different areas.
Shaanxi has now set 12 counties as models for water saving and dry
farming. The area planting improved varieties of grains is 47.27
million mu, and the areas covered with plastic films and
strains to preserve the soil moisture are respectively 1.5175
million mu and 337,000 mu. Water saving irrigation is
employed on an area of 33,000 mu. Using the technology of
dry farming, the 12 counties have improved their grain production
capacity by 14,0000 tons on an annual base, and farmers have
increased their annual income by 86.8 yuan.
In
line with Pang’s proposal, Shaanxi should set up 60 more pilot
counties for dry farming during the 10th Five-Year-Plan period.
That is to say, the number of counties practicing dry farming will
reach 72 by 2005. To achieve this goal, an investment of 250
million is needed.
As
Shaanxi has a limited financial ability, Pang suggested a full
support from the government. He urged the construction of dry
farming and water saving agricultural facilities in Shaanxi be put
on agenda of the government. Once successful, the experience thus
achieved can be promoted in other acrid areas of northwest China.
He proposed that the State Development Planning Commission and
Ministry of Agriculture could arrange 15 counties each year for
demonstration. And also, he urged more support from the central
government both in investment and in technology.
(CIIC by Yang Ling 03/06/2001)