Persistent drought challenges China model
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Li Guoxiang |
GT: There are few replicable experiences for China in managing water resources to serve such a vast nation with a huge population in rapid development. How should China find its way?
Zhang: China has begun to take some measures. The central government proactively advocates energy saving and emission reduction. Besides, the central government has allocated 2 trillion yuan ($303 billion) for water projects during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-15).
China should also take a short-term move beyond the aforementioned two measures - promote water storage. Each year, lots of rainfall vainly runs off into the sea. If we were able to save 10 percent of the rainfall in ditches, pools and reservoirs, severe drought would hardly cause turmoil.
By addressing its own problems of water resource usage and food production, China actually makes a huge contribution to the world. The UN food agency recently warned that China's drought might aggregate the global food crisis. This is an unfair censure.
The US and European countries waste lots of water resources and arable lands. Many developed countries have acquired fertile farmland with rich water resources, but give resources over to gardening, rather than crop-planting. They should make better use of their water and land resources rather than blaming China.
Li: We should clearly understand two things despite the external hyping of the food crisis.
First, China can't rely on the international market. It has to guarantee harvest by distributing agricultural subsidies and motivating people to combat the drought. People in foreign countries may turn to insurance companies to get compensation. This is not the case in China.
Second, rise of food prices in the global market shouldn't be solely attributed to China's severe drought. The scenario of the global food market was quite severe in 2010. Russia now bans grain export, and recent natural disasters in Australia and Brazil also influenced the international food market.
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