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China’s Agricultural Irrigation and Water Conservancy Projects: A Policy Synthesis and Discussion of Emerging Issues

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  • Lijuan Du

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China
    China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Li Xu

    (Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada)

  • Yanping Li

    (Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada)

  • Changshun Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China
    China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China)

  • Zhenhua Li

    (Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada)

  • Jefferson S. Wong

    (Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, 11 Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK S7N 3H5, Canada)

  • Bo Lei

    (State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China
    China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), A-1 Fuxing Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100038, China)

Abstract

The United Nations (UN) has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to tackle major barriers to sustainable development by 2030. Achieving these goals will rely on the contribution of all nations and require balancing trade-offs among different sectors. Water and food insecurity have long been the two major challenges facing China. To address these challenges and achieve the SDGs, China needs to safeguard its agricultural irrigation and water conservancy projects. Although China is making efforts to transition its agricultural development to a sustainable trajectory by promoting water-saving irrigation, a number of issues are emerging, both with policy reforms and technological innovations. Through synthesizing the historical development of agriculture and its relationship with policy and political regimes, this paper identifies four major issues that are challenging the sustainability transformation of China’s agricultural irrigation system and water conservancy projects: (1) problems with financial policy coordination between central and local governments; (2) the lack of incentives for farmers to construct and maintain irrigation infrastructure; (3) conflicts between decentralized operation of land and benefits from shared irrigation infrastructure; and (4) deterioration of small-scale irrigation infrastructure calls for action. In addressing these challenges, policy changes are required: government financial accountability at all levels needs to be clarified; subsidies need to be raised for the construction and management of small-scale irrigation and water conservancy projects; local non-profit organizations need to be established to enhance co-management between farmers and government.

Suggested Citation

  • Lijuan Du & Li Xu & Yanping Li & Changshun Liu & Zhenhua Li & Jefferson S. Wong & Bo Lei, 2019. "China’s Agricultural Irrigation and Water Conservancy Projects: A Policy Synthesis and Discussion of Emerging Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7027-:d:295730
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yujuan Zhai & Libo Hao & Yanhong Zhang & Ye Li & Zhaoli Liu, 2021. "Wetland Biodiversity Disturbance Evaluation Induced by a Water Conservancy Project in the Flooded Plain of the Huolin River Lower Reaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, April.

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