Zhanyi Gao PhD

China National Center for Efficient Irrigation Engineering and Technology Research (NCEI)

McGill Conference on Global Food Security

Oct 20, 2010

Food Security and Irrigation Development in China

Water Land and Population

0

5

10

15

20

25

W L P

Population and Irrigated Area

0

5

10

15

20

25

P I RRI . A

Irrigated Area Rate in World and China

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Wor l d Chi na

Water and Land Resources Distribution in Space

South ChinaNorth China

Water Land

0

20

40

60

80

100%

80%

20%

38%

62%

Precipitation Distribute in Space

mm

800

400

200

200

400800

Precipitation Distribute in Time

80%

20%

June- SeptOt her mont hs

85,400 reservoirs ，total storage capacity 634.5 billion m3

Total irrigated area 57.8 million ha with. 402 are large irrigation districts, each with irrigated area more than 20,000 ha

4.39 million pumping wells irrigate area 16.89 million ha

506,000 pumping stations

Summary of achievement (by the end of 2008)

Role of Irrigation in China

Yi el d( kg/ ha)

( 173%)

( 112%)

0100020003000400050006000700080009000

Rai nf ed I r r i gat ed paddy I r r i gat ed Upl andcr ops

Challenge 1 Growing Population(million)

1272

1372

14591476

1150

1200

1250

1300

1350

1400

1450

1500

2000 2010 2020 2030

Grain Demand Increasing with Population Increasing

(million T)

504566

625664

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2000 2010 2020 2030

Challenge 2 Reduction of Farmland(million ha)

128126

124122

110

120

130

2000 2010 2020 2030

Challenge 3 Water Competition and Scarcity(%)

68. 8

20. 710. 5

0102030405060708090

100

Agr i cul t ur e I ndust r y Domest i c

Challenge 4 Climate ChangeDistribution of Draught Affected Area in 2008

Draught Occur Frequency and Cereal Losses

05

1015202530354045

1950- 1990 1991- 2007

Dr aught F( %)Cer eal L( %)

Challenge 5 Aged Irrigation Facilities

Modernization of Irrigation Scheme Management

Reinforcement of 6240 large, medium and small -sized reservoirs will be completed by 2010

Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes with the objectives of increasing irrigation efficiency and productivitySince 1998, rehabilitation and

modernization for large-scale irrigation schemes has been carried out with objective to upgrade 402 large irrigation schemes by 2020

• Canal lining

• Upgrading on-farm irrigation system

Small basin

Field canal lining Subsurface pipeline

Extension of laser controlled land leveling

Application of Information and Automation Technology

Application of New Materials and Technologies

Precision Irrigation

Comprehensive Measures

Infrustructures

Capacity buildingsInstitutions

Stipulating and modifying related Laws and Regulations

《Water Law》《Agriculture Law》《Agricultural Technology Extension Law》

• Main structures, main and branch canals are managed by irrigation district bureau

• Lateral and sub-lateral canals are managed by WUA• Irrigation management has been improved by

introducing WUA, provided water users with better service.

Irrigation district management system WUA Water users

Introducing Water Use Association(WUA) to manage irrigation water

+ +

Set up WUA

Strengthening the protection and proper utilization of groundwater

In China 29.2% of irrigated area depends on groundwater . About half population in rural areas depend on groundwater for drinking water supply.

IRRIG, PRECIP

ET

Soil Water Reservoir

Surface runoff

Percolation

Upward GW

movemen

Interflow

Active root zone

Capillary fluxes

Subsurface drainage

Return flows

(Q,L)

Return flows (Q,L)

Leaching Fraction

Capillary fringe

Manage the soil water reservoir

Utilization of poor quality water

Improvement Water Management at Different Scales

Integrated Water Management

On Farm Irrigation Scheme Basin

South to North Water Transfer

海河Haihe river

淮河Huaihe river

黄河 Yellow river

长江Yangtze river

西线工程WL

中线工程ML 东

线工程EL

Water Saving Varieties

Improveing Fertilizer Using Efficiency

Resources mobilization

Investment

ProfessionalsTechnologies

Food Security

Food Supply Food Demand

DomesticProduction

International Market Basic Demand Increased Demand

Manage Demand

Promote International Cooperation.

WUA Project in Cambodia