A programme using more than US$12.4 million in aid given gratis by the British Government to improve the management of small rural water irrigation facilities was kicked off Friday in Beijing.

Beginning this year, funds from the programme will be provided to the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) and the State Comprehensive Agricultural Development Office through a trust fund under supervision of the World Bank.

During the next four years, the programme will train tens of thousands of water staff and farmers throughout China by reforming the management of small rural water supplies and irrigation facilities.

Major parts of the reform include improving irrigation management efficiency, raising productivity, promoting water-saving and reducing water conflicts among rural users by introducing rural water user associations in more areas.

"As 'a self-managing irrigation and drainage district,' the association will enable millions of farmers to have more say in managing water supply facilities and related issues including water pricing," a water official said.

Ni Wenjin, an official with the ministry's rural water department, is confident the reform will ensure the sustainability of rural minor water facilities with the association.

Zhai Haohui, vice-minister of MWR, said at the launching ceremony that "well-functioning water user associations based on democratic management will help improve the livelihood and security of poor farmers with access to improved water supply and the mitigating of conflicts, particularly for those living in western China's impoverished areas where water is scarce."

China heavily relies on its existing 56 million hectares of irrigated farmland, growing four-fifths of its total grains and over 90 per cent of its total cash crops.

About half of the irrigated grain-growing land benefits from small water facilities including locally run wells and terminal ditches linked with key irrigation systems.

Over the past two decades, economic efficiencies of the minor water facilities have kept shrinking due to ageing and poor management resulting from insufficient maintenance and lower water charges, Ni said.

For example, water fees charged by such facilities only account for one-third of their cost, he added.

Randomly charged water fees from local authorities have not only increased farmer's financial burden, but also caused increasing water-use-conflicts among users, experts say.

Source: China Daily