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Small Farmers Adapting to Global Markets
Sustainable Agriculture Development Project Phase II
Animal Health Initiative (CCAHI)
Livestock Health Extension Services Project (LHESP)
Integrated Dairy Cattle Breeding
PSRP--Livestock Waste Management
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The majority of China's poorest women and men live in the Western Regions of China and still rely primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. Continued and enhanced growth in the economy of the Western Regions is absolutely essential if China is to continue to reduce poverty, prevent social instability, and reduce the inequity between the poor western regions and the better off coastal areas. However, sustainability of natural resources remains a key constraint to future growth in the Western Regions. Continued poverty reduction programming in many parts of Western China compromised by widespread land degradation and dust storms have proven to be a tough challenge for China. To support China in the development of innovative land management technologies and extension services to promote sustainable land use in the Western Regions, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) agreed to implement the “Sustainable Agriculture Development Project-Phase II” in selected western provinces, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Xiangxi Prefecture of Hunan and Enshi Prefecture of Hubei.
The expected outcomes for the rural western regions where the project will be active are:
1. Adaptation of land resource management systems for sustainable agriculture;
2. Enhanced Sustainable Agriculture Extension Systems, and;
3. Improved enabling environment for sustainable land resource management.
China and Canada began the implementation of this project on Oct.15, 2004 in consultation with key Chinese government ministries, industry representatives, research institutes and other international donors. Canada’s contribution to the project is estimated at CND$ 20,000,000 (approximately 130 million RMB) over a period of 5 years and this will be supported by an equivalent counterpart budget from the Government of China. Canadian project inputs concentrate on the provision of Canadian and Chinese Long-Term Technical Advisors (LTTAs), short term consultants and training programs in China and Canada.
The Canadian executing agency for the project is Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), while the Ministry of Agriculture of China assumes the Chinese responsibilities related to the implementation of the project in China. The project implementation is overseen by a Central Coordination Committee co-chaired by CIDA and MOFCOM and consists of the Director General for Sustainable Production Systems from AAFC, relevant MOA departments and institutions, and the Directors General of the agriculture and animal husbandry bureaus of the project provinces/prefectures.
This Phase II SADP builds on the initiatives of Phase I which was implemented in Inner Mongolia that have the potential for broader applicability to other western development areas. Project activities involve the sharing of Canadian experiences, institutional capacity building, the enhancement or development of appropriate policies, technologies and systems to improve land management and extension services, training in Canada and in China, practical attachments in Canada and assistance in the creation and development of farmer organizations. Project activities will be implemented at both the central and provincial levels, while demonstration sites are supported at the county, village and household levels. At the national level the project will focus on capacity building for senior administrators and decision-makers and policy research in support of project objectives. Field based programs will focus on pilot counties to demonstrate sustainable agriculture strategies and their extension to other areas and regions.
Objectives
The primary objective of this project is to promote environmentally sustainable agriculture development in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) through the development of more responsive technology transfer and the direct introduction, demonstration and adaptation of sustainable agriculture management practices specifically in the areas of grazing management and conservation tillage. The long term impact will be the adaptation and application of proven sustainable agriculture management practices of forage based livestock production systems and conservation tillage technology in IMAR. This is to be accomplished with the added goal of improved financial condition for farmers and herders in IMAR.
Project Management
The Sustainable Agriculture Project is a 5 year (2000-2005) joint project between Canada and China, both of whom will contribute resources (3.5 million dollars from each side) to the project and be involved in the overall management. The World Bank is a partner through the co-location and co-management afforded by one of the demonstration sites.
The Canadian Executing Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) is responsible for the management, administration and execution of activities related to Canada’s role in this project and will provide all necessary support to ensure that project activities are met. The organization responsible for executing delivery of the project in IMAR is the Inner Mongolian Agriculture University. The Canadian Project Director is Gerry Luciuk of PFRA, while the Chinese Project Director is Dr. Li Changyou President of the Inner Mongolian Agriculture University.
Project Components
1) Sustainable Grazing Management
This
component will develop grazing systems and rangeland
conservation technology to demonstrate the production and
conservation benefits planned grazing management. The systems
are on both individual herder sites and locations where many
different farmers are allocated grazing privileges, with on site
managers caring for the livestock. The demonstrations also
include methods to improve season long feed supply. The systems
have been developed on a wide variety of rangeland conditions in
order to have a baseline to compare the evolution of poor
condition grazing land.
Forage variety trials have been developed at each project
location in order to determine the varieties most suitable for
early and late season grazing, as well as for winter feed
supply. These species are being evaluated for winter hardiness,
longevity, yield, and drought hardiness. This data will be
incorporated with existing data from trials in China to develop
a forage recommendation guide. Currently there is work on-going
in developing extension material for farmers and herders. A few
key references that used extensively in Canada will be adapted
to Inner Mongolian conditions.
A Range Condition Assessment and Stocking Rate Guide has been developed for Inner Mongolian native grasslands to evaluate range condition and set sustainable stocking rates. The guide was developed using current data available from the Grassland Survey and Design Institute and Inner Mongolian Agriculture University.
Trials were conducted on sand dune reclamation using techniques which were successful in North America. Good success has been achieved using a Canadian designed, and Chinese replicated straw crimper to stabilize dunes and allow sites for seeded forage establishment.
2) Conservation Tillage
Conservation tillage equipment and agronomy is being demonstrated to reduce tillage passes, conserve moisture, reduce soil loss, improve seed placement, reduce costs and improve yields. The objective is to improve the environmental sustainablility of annual cropping, while improving the profitability for IMAR farmers.
Two prototype small-scale direct seeding implements were developed. These seeders were based on technology used in Canada, where conservation tillage science is very advanced. The first seeder developed was of medium scale (approx. 2 metres) and is towed behind a tractor. Canadian and Chinese engineers have collaborated on a number of modifications. A second, smaller 3 point hitch seeder (approx. 1 metre) was jointly developed by Canadian and Chinese engineers. These seeders have been duplicated and are being used for demonstration and evaluation in China. This seeders can be pulled with a low horsepower tractors which are available throughout China. The goal is to develop a conservation tillage system applicable to the majority of annual crop farmers in IMAR. A large scale Canadian air-seeder may be demonstrated on a large farm in northern IMAR where there are larger tracts of land being seeded. This is a proven system in arid annual cropped agriculture.
3) Capacity Building
The capacity building component will focus on improving the ability of professionals to deliver agriculture information, primarily in the fields of grazing management and conservation tillage, to farmers and herders. There is very good knowledge and research in range management science in the Chinese research community. The goal will be to develop a forum for delivery of Chinese research results and accepted range management principles to farmers and herders. Conservation tillage science is not as well developed in IMAR, and this component will focus more on delivering the science of conservation tillage, but also with some focus on how to extend this information to farmers. The focus of the capacity building component will be on “train the trainer” and will be delivered by Canadian and Chinese partners.
Both classroom and field level training courses have taken place with both Chinese and Canadian specialists presenting. Courses have been presented in Hohhot, Baotou College, Xilinghote, Hailar, and Wudan. A number of levels of courses have been presented. The focus has been delivering this information to field level extensionists. More recently courses have been conducted at the graduate level at IMAU for both the Masters of Extension Program, as well as the MSc programs.
To date a number of training materials have been developed including: Grazing and Livestock Management Technical Manual; Conservation Tillage Manual; and Extension Principles Manual. All of these materials are available in both Mandarin and English.
To a lesser extent annual programs in Water Saving Irrigation Technology, and GIS in Land Use Planning have been presented as well.
A number of senior officials, as well as the top participants from training courses have traveled to Canada to study extension delivery, and sustainable agriculture technology in Canada.
Baotao Vocational and Technical College, of Inner Mongolia
Agricultural University (IMAU), is thee lead delivery agency of
the capacity building component. As a leader in training staff
for field delivery of Ministry of Agriculture programs, they are
in a good position to deliver this component. The College will
also be used as a centre to demonstrate other sustainable
agriculture technology.
A training program will also be developed to teach the
utilization of Geographic Information Systems in Sustainable
Agriculture planning. This will require an understanding of the
data available in IMAR, then development of a training program.
Irrigation efficiency has been identified as a development need by IMAR and IMAU officials. The College will be used as a base to demonstrate efficient irrigation and drainage technologies to reduce water requirements and salinity.
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