EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Similar to many areas in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Shanxi Province is experiencing reduced water security for the agriculture sector. Changing climate conditions, including reduced rainfall, are increasing reliance on groundwater resources in the province. Unsustainable groundwater use for food production intensifies the impacts of climate change, and cost-effective adaptation responses are needed to better equip vulnerable agricultural regions. Groundwater is the main source of water supply for many local farmers in Shanxi Province. Water is often used with inefficient and outdated irrigation techniques. However, most traditional farmers are eager to improve and modernize their crop production and adopt more sustainable agricultural methods. Following increasing agricultural and industrial water use, Shanxi Province’s groundwater tables have been declining since 1956, a problem compounded by the impacts of climate change. Currently, roughly a quarter of the province’s land area—especially the fertile valleys—is experiencing falling groundwater tables. An estimated decrease in rainfall of 12% since 1960 and a rise in average temperature of 1.2°C over the same period have added to the pressure on groundwater availability.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2009 approved the Shanxi Integrated Agricultural Development Project to strengthen agricultural production in 26 counties in Shanxi Province. Complementing the project is a $500,000 grant from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund under the Water Financing Partnership Facility to support climate change adaptation through groundwater management.The grant supported farmers introducing water conservation and energy-efficient water use practices and increasing climate change resilience to halt declining groundwater levels. Declining groundwater tables lead to higher pumping costs and lower water security, making support for farmers to adopt such sustainable practices in selected pilot sites in Shanxi Province highly relevant. The grant was given to Lishi, Pingshun, Qi Xian, and Xi Xian counties after a competitive selection process among local governments and farmers. About 600 farmers in these four counties were introduced to modern and efficient horticultural irrigation systems.
Groundwater-saving technologies and practices are needed in the lowland areas where overuse is most prevalent and groundwater levels have dropped significantly. Farmers in Xiliuzhi Village, Qi Xian County changed irrigation practices from flood to drip irrigation in their greenhouses. The new system has pressure meters, dual distribution lines, a centrifugal filter to remove impurities from water, and a frequency converter, the last being an innovation that reduced energy consumption by 40%. As a comparison of the progressive approach that the Shanxi Provincial Government is taking, the experiences in Qinxu County are summarized, where the provincial government, independent from the ADB grant, already implemented a tradable quota system, tiered pricing, swipe cards, automatic water-level recorders, and a data control center.
In the upland areas, groundwater overuse is not yet a problem, but agricultural expansion is needed to keep up with the increased demand for (high-quality) food. In Xi Xian County, the innovative use of large diameter, 0.8 millimeters (mm) micro-irrigation pipes that do not clog easily was introduced in Quyan Village. The water supply comes from a natural spring feeding the main pipe 110 mm in diameter, which was itself enlarged from its previous 90 mm diameter to increase pressure on the supply pipes. In Pingshun County, the villages of Henantan, Wangqu, and Wanli got a boost in the cultivation and production of prickly ash shoots, a local delicacy, with the introduction of microsprinklers suspended in mesh tents. In addition to irrigating, this system washes down remaining aphids and avoids the soil getting too wet. Farmers in Xiaoshentou Village, Lishi County, who battle the cold temperature of the irrigation water, were introduced to a drip sprinkler irrigation combined with warming ponds in greenhouses.
The demonstration sites began with soil surveys and discussions with farmers. In some cases, it took time to convince farmers of the benefits of pressurized irrigation systems due to their novelty. Intense dialogue with the farmers, coupled with training courses on the use of the technology, helped farmers understand and finally accept the new systems. Eventually, the irrigation systems were designed and became operational in 2012, and farmers saw firsthand the effects of improved groundwater management. Today, water associations promote the irrigation systems in tandem with county authorities.
As the demonstration sites began operating, the farmers experienced multiple benefits. In several cases, this encouraged others to replicate the systems practiced. In Lishi County, Xiaoshentou’s warming ponds make it possible to grow a third greenhouse crop. The drip sprinkler irrigation system is designed to give farmers a 10% increase in crop yields with lower labor inputs. Fertilizer and pesticide consumption is likewise expected to decrease by 20%. In Pingshun County, the average income increase is about 15%–20%, achieved with less labor. The microsprinkler also promises to bring better-quality leafy produce as aphids are washed out and pesticide use is reduced. In Qi Xian County, the drip systems combined with inexpensive plastic mulch led to 40%–60% water savings and 35%–40% fertilizer savings. Simultaneously, the new systems translated into a 25%–40% crop yield increase. In Xi Xian County, the system is poised to produce a yield of 1,500 kilograms (kg) of apples per mu, compared with 600 kg per mu without the system.
ADB’s support for agricultural modernization resulted in savings in water, energy, fertilizers, and pesticides. Agricultural modernization also required less labor, which benefited many farmers in Shanxi Province, a significant number of whom are elderly. Gradual replication of the project in various stages is currently under way, financed by counterpart funds from the provincial government. This clearly indicates that despite climate change’s adverse impact on water resources and food production, there are opportunities for traditional farmers in Shanxi Province to adapt to these changes and make agricultural production more sustainable.
The demonstration activities show that further control of groundwater use is possible without jeopardizing development.
Based on the demonstration activities implemented in Shanxi Province, and recognizing future challenges to sustain or increase agricultural production in more uncertain climatic conditions, a number of key recommendations for strengthening groundwater management were formulated by various stakeholders in Shanxi Province:
Establishing the strictest water resources management systems. Such systems include levying groundwater resource taxes and promoting water-saving behavior with a charging mechanism; water quotas and rights trading market; and irrigation water fees in the whole province according to the amount of water used for each mu. The ultimate goal is to promote water-saving irrigation practices among farmers.
Planning water use. The construction of a modern water supply network and a water ecoculture should be expedited.
Promoting demonstration projects. More efforts should be spent in building demonstrations for various water-saving projects and in ensuring their outreach.
Adopting innovative water-saving technologies and practices. Different water-saving irrigation techniques should be selected for different natural conditions, and a multiple range of water-saving solutions that suit the specific conditions of a region should be implemented. New water-saving techniques should be promoted and supported, with various watersaving irrigation techniques and equipment disseminated to more farmers. The government should provide funds to purchase and install irrigation equipment, whereas grant or loan projects or farmers themselves provide the counterpart funds. It is also possible to rely on companies of scale or farmers’ cooperatives for investment.
Conducting water-saving technical training. These training sessions should be given priority so that efficient irrigation technologies can be readily mastered by trainees, and the existing water-saving facilities can run normally and be serviced and maintained properly.
Adjusting the current farming structure, especially large-scale cultivation. High water-consuming varieties should be eliminated, while more agronomic water-saving techniques are promoted.