Less means more for China's farmers
11 August 2008
With a multitude of pressures bearing down on them - from climate change to land
loss to a dwindling labour force - these are challenging times for China's
farmers. In recent years these troubles have conspired to create some
disappointing grain harvests, which have left rural communities fearful of what
the future holds.
Unfortunately, they have reason to fear the worst. Research from DFID and Defra suggests that the next few decades may see yields of rice, maize and wheat plummet, taking with them the livelihoods of innumerable farmers.
To help ensure this doesn't happen, the UK has entered into a pioneering partnership with the Chinese Government. Aimed at finding sustainable solutions to some of the country's most urgent poverty-related issues, it has already come up with some innovative answers. Getting farmers to switch the type of fertiliser they use - to benefit the environment as well as their own pockets - is one of these.
Polluting the air and water
Currently, Chinese agriculture is a massive over-user of the "inorganic" fertilizers that have been shown to have a damaging effect upon surrounding ecosystems. The events of May 2007 at Wuxi City illustrate just how damaging these nitrogen-based chemicals can be. For two weeks, inhabitants of the east coast metropolis went without drinking water after a nearby lake became contaminated with the inorganic treatments that local farmers had been pumping into their soil.
But the trouble doesn't stop at water pollution. These compounds also allow harmful gases to escape into the atmosphere, where they lead to acid rain and contribute to climate change. In fact, the carbon dioxide released in the manufacture and application of nitrogen fertilizers represents over 20% of China's total carbon dioxide emissions.
And there is another, perhaps more immediate drawback to using these fertilizers. By continuing to apply them in such quantities, China's farmers are seriously reducing their own incomes. In Chencang District in the northern Shaanxi Province, for example, overuse of nitrogen during maize production has lowered farmers' profits by 20%.
Practical solutions
To bring an end to this overuse, UK and
Chinese researchers are now working with farmers in two counties (Heyang and Chencang)
on a number of practical measures.
Simple field tests to determine the nutrient status of soils are one such measure. These tests allow farmers to identify any deficiencies in the soil and apply the precise amounts of fertilizer needed to correct them.
Farmers are also being encouraged to budget more rigorously, so that their spending on fertilizers is appropriate to their needs. And by analysing the overall costs of farming activities, researchers are preparing the ground for more profitable crop production.
On to a winner
Pulling back on inorganic fertilizers promises to be a winner on all fronts for
China. Research into maize and wheat farming shows that even if fertilizer use
were cut by up to 50%, harvests would not be affected. The environment would
benefit from the reduction in carbon emissions and with less money
being spent needlessly, the incomes of poor farmers would begin to rise.
Facts and stats
- This project is part of the UK-China Sustainable Development Dialogue (SDD). The SDD promotes good practice, policy innovation and mutual learning in sustainable development.
- The SDD was launched in November 2005 by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- DFID is contributing £210,800 to the SDD.
- Sustainable agriculture is a joint priority of the SDD. It covers issues such as agricultural waste management, biogas, agricultural pollution and sustainable global fisheries.
- A China-UK Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN) will be launched in the autumn of 2008, with a focus on translating policy and science into practical action.
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