Shanxi Farmers Embrace Modern Irrigation Methods to Adapt to Climate Change

“Managing groundwater is important not just because of overuse. Due to climate change, groundwater has become the solid buffer,” said Frank van Steenbergen, water resources specialist with MetaMeta Research. “Water saving is important. This project started with the idea that we would save water, and that is important because we overuse it.”

Van Steenbergen specializes in groundwater management, water for food, and flood-based farming systems. He is part of the team headed by Frank Radstake, senior environment specialist at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) East Asia Department, that worked to promote agricultural development in the river basins of Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.

The grant introduced about 600 Shanxi farmers to modern and efficient horticultural irrigation systems. The aim was to promote more sustainable groundwater use to maintain its buffer and contingency supply for periods when demands may be higher. As a result, more sustainable use of groundwater was introduced while farm labor was reduced. Crop yields increased and water was used more efficiently.

“But it’s not just about the farmers,” said Van Steenbergen. “It’s also about what’s around them and what is supporting them. Like the local enterprise in Pingshun and the farmers’ union in Qixian. So one lesson is that it’s not just about saving water and increasing yields. It’s also about creating local economies based on efficient water use."