314
15 Agricultural Water Management in Northern China
machinery, and biological instruments to develop water saving. It gained the remit
for rural affairs in a 2018 governmental restructure.
The Department of Farming Management within the ministry is responsible for
farming development policies, conducting farming management, working to develop
water-saving agricultural projects, and formulating water-saving agriculture development policies. Since 2018, the department has been responsible for proposing farmland construction projects, assessing cultivated land quality, participating in permanent basic farmland protection, and managing comprehensive agricultural development projects as well as farmland renovation and farmland irrigation development
projects.
As a result, the farming department does not have many responsibilities related
to agricultural water resources management per se. Its activities are conducted under
farmland management.
Agricultural Technology-Promoting Centers and Stations
Besides agricultural bureaus, agricultural technology promotion centers have also
been set up at the levels of province, prefecture, and county levels, under the leadership of the respective bureaus at each level. These centers or “stations” are responsible for agricultural disaster forecasting and control, providing technical guidance
and services, and promoting agricultural technologies, including agricultural water
resources management.
As a result, the detailed activities related to agricultural water resources management in the agricultural administrative department are conducted by these promotion
centers/stations.
15.3.2 Legal and Policy Framework
15.3.2.1 Water Law
The main legislation governing agricultural water resources management is the Water
Law. Besides general water resources management systems, in terms of agricultural
water resources management, Article 8 of the 2016 Water Law stipulates that the
state should promote water-saving measures and new technologies and processes,
and develop water-saving forms of agriculture. Article 50 stipulates that regional and
local governments shall promote water-saving irrigation methods and technologies,
and apply water-proofing measures for agricultural water storage and conveyancing,
in order to increase agricultural water-use efficiency.
Supporting articles under the aegis of the Water Law further strengthen agricultural water resources management. These include the 2016 Regulation of Farmland
Irrigation Development, the 2006 Regulation on Water Abstraction Permit and Water
Resources Fee Collection and Management, 2009 Regulation on Drought Resistance
15 Agricultural Water Management in Northern China
machinery, and biological instruments to develop water saving. It gained the remit
for rural affairs in a 2018 governmental restructure.
The Department of Farming Management within the ministry is responsible for
farming development policies, conducting farming management, working to develop
water-saving agricultural projects, and formulating water-saving agriculture development policies. Since 2018, the department has been responsible for proposing farmland construction projects, assessing cultivated land quality, participating in permanent basic farmland protection, and managing comprehensive agricultural development projects as well as farmland renovation and farmland irrigation development
projects.
As a result, the farming department does not have many responsibilities related
to agricultural water resources management per se. Its activities are conducted under
farmland management.
Agricultural Technology-Promoting Centers and Stations
Besides agricultural bureaus, agricultural technology promotion centers have also
been set up at the levels of province, prefecture, and county levels, under the leadership of the respective bureaus at each level. These centers or “stations” are responsible for agricultural disaster forecasting and control, providing technical guidance
and services, and promoting agricultural technologies, including agricultural water
resources management.
As a result, the detailed activities related to agricultural water resources management in the agricultural administrative department are conducted by these promotion
centers/stations.
15.3.2 Legal and Policy Framework
15.3.2.1 Water Law
The main legislation governing agricultural water resources management is the Water
Law. Besides general water resources management systems, in terms of agricultural
water resources management, Article 8 of the 2016 Water Law stipulates that the
state should promote water-saving measures and new technologies and processes,
and develop water-saving forms of agriculture. Article 50 stipulates that regional and
local governments shall promote water-saving irrigation methods and technologies,
and apply water-proofing measures for agricultural water storage and conveyancing,
in order to increase agricultural water-use efficiency.
Supporting articles under the aegis of the Water Law further strengthen agricultural water resources management. These include the 2016 Regulation of Farmland
Irrigation Development, the 2006 Regulation on Water Abstraction Permit and Water
Resources Fee Collection and Management, 2009 Regulation on Drought Resistance