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Shanxi Farmers Embrace Modern Irrigation Methods to Adapt to Climate Change
| Date: | March 2013 |
| Type: | Brochures and Flyers |
| Series: | Knowledge Showcases |
Description
The Shanxi Province in the People’s Republic of China has been experiencing declining groundwater tables since 1956. From 2000 to 2007, overall water availability decreased by about 5% annually from 8.2 billion cubic meters to about 7 billion. Changing climate conditions have further compounded the issue, with unsustainable groundwater use and outdated agricultural practices threatening food production in the province.
In 2009, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a project to strengthen agricultural production in 26 counties in the Shanxi Province. Complementing the project was a grant aimed to support farmers by introducing water conservation and energy-efficient water use practices to increase climate change resilience and halt declining groundwater levels. ADB’s support resulted in savings in water, energy, fertilizers, pesticides, and labor that aided many farmers in Shanxi. Gradual replication of the project is currently under way and financed by counterpart funds from the Shanxi government. This 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 and make agricultural production more sustainable.
This publication gives an overview of how ADB's agricultural development support met the rising challenges in water security, food production, and climate change faced by communities in the province.
