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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, July 21, 2002

Chinese Farmers Benefit from Harnessing Soil Erosion

In a country with serious soil erosion, more Chinese farmers are benefiting from the country's conservation policy.


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In a country with serious soil erosion, more Chinese farmers are benefiting from the country's conservation policy.

Soil erosion deprives the country of more than 66,700 hectares of land each year. Now China implements a policy of contracting, leasing and auctioning rights for the use of wasteland.

Chen Yirong, a farmer in east China's Jiangxi Province, is making an annual income of 20,000 yuan (2,409 US dollars) by growing sweet bamboo shoots on the 3.3 hectares of riverside area he rented three years ago.

In Shicheng County, Chen's hometown, there are many low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding in rainy season. It is a typical example of serious vegetation deterioration in Jiangxi, a provincelong plagued with soil erosion.

Yao Yichen, an expert with the provincial department of water conservation, said deforestation of farmland in some poverty-stricken areas has resulted in increased soil erosion which will inevitably raise the farmers' poverty level.

"Only when production and preservation of biodiversity are in balance can soil erosion be completely controlled," Yao said.

Provincial authorities said a healthy method of agricultural production aimed at soil and water conservation has taken shape insouth Jiangxi.

The county government of Shicheng has put all the drainage areas of small rivers, river beaches and pool areas under soil erosion control efforts.

The county has divided these areas into 137 ecological strips and entrusted farmers with exploitation right together with the responsibilities for erosion control.

Chen Yirong's success story of making money from wasteland has encouraged more than 4,000 farmers in his county to join the ecologically friendly program.

Exploitation right for over 186.7 hectares of such land has been given to local farmers.

Farmers, advised by agricultural technicians assigned by local governments, take into consideration not only planting and livestock breeding, but also afforestation and water conservation.



The ecological strips in Shicheng County are now covered with trees and blessed with enough water for irrigation.

Other provinces with serious soil erosion such as Shaanxi and Gansu, have also adopted similar measures.

Nationwide, such programs have attracted more than 10.8 billionyuan (1.3 billion US dollars) of investment. A total of 8.78 million rural households have joined in conserving the land, bringing 12.7 million hectares of once eroded land under control.


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