Building Ecological Security System for the National Core Grain Growing Area of Henan

Client: Asian Development Bank

Duration: 2015-2017

Location: Henan Province, PRC

Contract Value: USD 282,284

Catalogue: Agriculture

Project Description

The TA was to increase contribution from Henan grain production systems to national food security. The main objective was to support the Henan provincial government to build an ecological security system that can safeguard and improve grain production in the core grain growing area of the Henan province to maintain national food security and promote the sustainable use of the province’s agricultural land and forests. The TA had three outputs: (i) agroforestry best practices in technical management recommended; (ii) strategy for agroforestry development drafted; and (iii) government and community capacity to implement agroforestry activities enhanced.

Services Provided by NAREE

Improved Agroforestry Strategy – NAREE developed an improved agroforestry strategy which include, (i) establishing and strengthening inter-institution coordination and strategic linkages and partnerships with public institutions, communities, farmers and other stakeholders such as traders (agricultural value chains); (ii) availability and sustainability of delivery of agroforestry inputs – seeds, seedlings, tools, etc.; (iii) improving policies for sustainable agroforestry development and management including incentives for adoption of agroforestry and ecological security; (iv) enhancing farmers’ own experimentation capacities; (v) improving and adding value to agroforestry products through market-based instruments (certification, labelling, including carbon labelling) and market access to derive greater socioeconomic benefits; and (vi) monitoring and impact studies needed to persuade policy makers that agroforestry deserves their support.

Current Situation Study and Field Survey – NAREE conducted a comprehensive background and current information study, and organized site visits to six counties, 18 villages and 360 households have be surveyed, including existing counties, villages, farm cooperatives and agricultural and forestry state farms managers.

Climate Change Impacts Assessment – NAREE conducted an assessment to describe climate change, related environmental hazards and threats affecting crop production in the core grain area of Henan. Based on this analysis, climate change scenarios were developed and their potential impacts on crop production were assessed.

Economic and Financial Analysis – The financial analysis prepared by NAREE assessed the economic profitability of agroforestry existing models, including both farmland protection forests models and intercropping models. A preliminary cost-benefits analysis pertaining to the implementation of the Forestry-related Action Plan underlining the Ecological Security Action Plan has also been prepared.

Ecological Security Strategy and Action Plan – The forestry-related Action Plan has been structured around six main goals that need to be implemented in an integrated fashion, and those goals should lead to a wider adoption and maintenance of forestry-related investments for ecological security.