Projects > Brief descriptions > Environmental strategies for intensive agriculture in North China

Contact person

Mr Gerd Fleischer
Email: gerd.fleischer@giz.de

Environmental strategies for intensive agriculture in North China

Programme description

Title: Environmental strategies for intensive agriculture in North China
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: China
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)
Overall term: 2002 to 2011

Context

For many years, in response to the limited availability of farmland and its growing population, China promoted intensive agriculture for its food production. However, irrational and excessive use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, especially inorganic nitrates, and the misuse of animal waste have caused high levels of environmental pollution, affecting the soil, surface water and ground water. These practices have also contaminated agricultural produce, such as vegetables and fruits, while also increasing the costs incurred by farmers. In recent years there has been growing concern among consumers and government agencies alike about the sustainability of intensive agriculture in China.

Objective

Selected agricultural products are produced to a better quality and in an environmentally friendly way in the pilot regions.

Approach

The project selected several counties in Hebei Province as pilot regions. It then developed a concept for greenhouse production and introduced this to local farmers using traditional and innovative methods, including ‘farmers field schools’. New management techniques and technologies, for example for irrigation in the greenhouses, have enabled the immediate reduction in the use of pesticides, fertiliser and groundwater. Farmers who successfully introduced these methods on their farms were then also trained as ‘leading farmers’ to spread the technologies to others in the region. A website was created to inform the public about the project and its achievements.

Results achieved so far

More than 20,000 farmers are now using an average of 30 % less nitrogen fertiliser and 20 % less chemical pesticides, as compared to their neighbours. Two vegetable cooperatives with more than 500 members were certified according to the ‘Green Food’ standard, thereby improving their access to markets. The farmers’ average incomes have increased by 35 % due to the reduction in input costs.

Major elements of the project approach were incorporated into the province’s 11th Five Year Plan, and the provincial government now plans to adopt them for 80 % of the vegetable producing areas during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2016).