From desertified fields to people’s dining tables, a bowl of millet has ushered in a new way of opening up, unlocking successful cases of using public welfare to carry out desertification prevention and control.
Amidst the noisy sound of drums and gongs, a handful of water-saving millet seeds were sown on the once severely desertified land. After about 5 months, these seeds will grow into plump and heavy grain ears, and fragrant and golden millet will be served on the people’s dining tables.
On the morning of May 4th, the water-saving millet spring planting ceremony was held in Menggentalagacha, Barunbuili Town, Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia. This sustainable agriculture and ecological governance project, implemented by the Alashan SEE Ecological Association and Beijing Weixi Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Beijing Weixi Company”) since 2009, encourages farmers in western desertification areas to plant ecologically friendly desert water-saving millet to reduce groundwater consumption and delay the spread of desertification.
At the recently held World Economic Forum, this project was selected as a case report on accelerating climate action in Asia. The report selected 16 successful cases of philanthropy worldwide. The report states that the water-saving millet project promotes water-saving technology and planting methods, improves millet yield and quality, reduces water resource consumption in agricultural production, and promotes sustainable agricultural development and increased income for farmers.
As of the end of 2023, the project has promoted a total of 2271.72 hectares of water-saving millet, with 759 participating farmers.
Realizing a balance between groundwater extraction and replenishment
Alxa is the westernmost league in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with a total area of 270000 square kilometers, of which one-third is desert, one-third is Gobi, and one-third is desert grassland. The area of desertified land accounts for 90% of the total land area. The Badain Jaran, Ulanbuhe, and Tengger deserts traverse the entire region.
In history, Alxa was once a place with abundant water and grass. Due to the extensive cultivation of farmland in the upper reaches of the Heihe River in Gansu, excessive logging of primary secondary forests in Helan Mountains, and rapid degradation of grasslands caused by overgrazing, Alxa ultimately became one of the sources of sandstorms in northern China.
Xiaomi is one of the traditional crops in the north, but it is not easy to grow it in the Alxa region. The reporter from First Financial News learned during an interview in the local area that for many years, local agricultural areas have generally used flood irrigation to plant corn, with an average water consumption of about 800 cubic meters per mu. The demand for groundwater resources is far greater than natural supply, and land desertification is becoming increasingly serious.
On the “World Environment Day” on June 5, 2004, 100 Chinese entrepreneurs issued the Alxa Declaration in the Moon Lake of Tengger Desert, established the Alxa SEE Ecological Association, and committed to the prevention and control of desertification and agricultural assistance in Alxa by means of capital, technology, knowledge and other means.
During the experimental phase, Xiaomi showed potential for cultivation in the Alxa region. Wang Shi, the then president of the SEE Ecological Association in Alxa, learned that Zhao Zhihai, the director of the Grain Research Institute of the Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Hebei Province, known as the “father of hybrid millet”, has developed water-saving millet seeds and introduced them for cultivation. Afterwards, Zhao Zhihai and his research team began conducting experiments in Alxa and achieved success.
On the morning of May 4th, the water-saving millet spring planting site of the water-saving millet project in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia. Photography/Zhang Ke
“Since 2013, the Ren Xiaomi project has been carrying out water-saving Xiaomi planting demonstration and promotion in the largest oasis among the ten oases in Alxa – Barun Bieli Town (Yaoba Oasis), while also conducting community training and guidance.” Mou Zhengpeng, the general manager of Beijing Weixi Company, told a reporter from First Financial News that local farmers are planting water-saving crops to replace traditional high water consuming crops and promoting efficient irrigation methods mainly based on drip irrigation, reducing the consumption of groundwater by traditional agricultural irrigation.
Nowadays, with the promotion of water-saving millet agriculture, the water consumption per acre of drip irrigation is only one-third to half of the original (about 200 to 300 cubic meters). The water-saving Xiaomi project has achieved a balance between groundwater extraction and replenishment for many consecutive years.
Relying on commercial operations to generate self growth
Promoting water-saving agriculture is not only a technical issue, but also an economic one.
Due to the fact that private non enterprise units are not legally allowed to engage in for-profit business activities, the Alashan SEE Ecological Association established Beijing Weixi Company in 2015 to implement a water-saving Xiaomi project, responsible for the research and development, product promotion, and sales of water-saving Xiaomi products. Establish a cooperative in Alxa, responsible for the field management of water-saving millet from spring planting to autumn harvest and communication with farmers.
Mou Zhengpeng told First Financial reporters that Beijing Weixi Company adopts the form of contract agriculture to protect the interests of farmers. “We have been purchasing millet from farmers for several years at a purchase price that is about 30% higher than the market price, and providing them with a drip irrigation subsidy of 140 yuan/mu, and paying insurance of about 1000 yuan/person to ensure the income of farmers,” she said.
61 year old Menggentalagacha farmer Gao Kuanping has been planting millet since 2013, “planting dozens of acres every year, with a maximum of 70 acres planted.” On the morning of the 4th, at the water-saving millet planting site, Gao Kuanping told a reporter from First Financial News that compared to planting corn, due to the promised purchase price of the water-saving millet project, his income is stable. “I planted 50 acres this year, and the water-saving Xiaomi project promises a purchase price of 3 yuan per kilogram. Based on a yield of 800 kilograms per acre and a grain and grass yield of 400 yuan per acre, the gross income exceeds 120000 yuan. After deducting costs, the net income from planting Xiaomi this year is 100000 yuan, which is still very cost-effective.”
Meng Gentalagacha Party Branch Deputy Secretary Lian Shibin told First Financial reporters that this year, 1400 acres of land in Gacha are planted with millet, accounting for more than one tenth of the total. “Due to stable income, farmers’ enthusiasm for planting millet is still high.”
On the morning of May 4th, the water-saving millet spring planting site of the water-saving millet project in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia. Photography/Zhang Ke
“In recent years, public welfare donations for water-saving Xiaomi projects have not been able to meet the large expenses of water-saving Xiaomi cultivation.” Mou Zhengpeng said, especially in recent years, special public welfare donations have fallen to the bottom, with only 23110.13 yuan raised in 2021, and the following year’s water-saving Xiaomi cultivation subsidies are funded by the water-saving Xiaomi project. “Over the years, we have relied on developing competitive Xiaomi products, expanding sales channels, strictly controlling costs and expenses, and relying on commercial operations to self generate revenue, overcoming difficulties,” she said.
Data shows that in the past four years, the actual subsidy amount for water-saving millet planting in water-saving millet projects has exceeded 3.7 million yuan (with a total of 856000 yuan raised by public welfare platforms during the same period), which has played a leading role in promoting water-saving millet planting.
In recent years, in order to attract a wider audience, water-saving Xiaomi projects have developed and launched Xiaomi derivatives. Xiaomi sticks, Xiaomi crisps, Xiaomi vinegar, Xiaomi beer, Xiaomi spiral noodles, Xiaomi pasta, and other products have emerged one after another. These products have considerable sales in offline stores and online channels.
Establish a multi-party water-saving mechanism
From desertified fields to people’s dining tables, a bowl of millet has ushered in a new way of opening up, unlocking successful cases of using public welfare to carry out desertification prevention and control.
China is one of the countries most severely affected by land desertification, with a desertification land area of 168.7823 million hectares (2.532 billion mu), accounting for approximately 17.58% of the total land area.
The Water Conservation Regulations (2024) issued by the State Council on March 20 this year propose to follow the principles of overall planning, comprehensive implementation of policies, tailored measures to local conditions, and classified guidance, adhere to total quantity control, scientific allocation, and efficient utilization, combine constraints and incentives, and establish a water-saving mechanism led by the government, coordinated by all parties, market regulation, and public participation.
The National Plan for Sand Control and Prevention (2021-2030) proposes to use resources such as light, heat, soil, life, and scenery to moderately and orderly develop water-saving, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly characteristic sand industries, promote income growth for farmers and herdsmen, and help consolidate poverty alleviation achievements and rural revitalization, while protecting the ecology and allowing water resources.
Li Yuanyuan, Vice President of the Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design Institute of the Ministry of Water Resources, stated in his interpretation of the “Regulations on Water Conservation (2024)” that in China, there are more people and less water, and the contradiction between water supply and demand is prominent. Water conservation is the key to solving water safety problems. China’s agricultural water consumption accounts for over 60% of the total water consumption in the country, making it the most promising area for water conservation.
The natural scenery of Alxa region. Photography/Zhang Ke
Li Yuanyuan said that for a long time, water conservation in China has mainly relied on government promotion. In the new development stage, it must be transformed into a three wheel drive model guided by the government, market entities, and the participation of the whole society, forming a joint force for water conservation.
In terms of agricultural water conservation, the Water Conservation Regulations (2024) propose that people’s governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments should guide agricultural production and operation entities to adjust their planting and breeding structure and agricultural water use structure reasonably based on the level of economic and social development and water resource conditions, actively develop water-saving agriculture, and develop dryland agriculture according to local conditions. The state provides key support for the development of water-saving agriculture in areas with water scarcity. Encourage and guide social capital to participate in the construction and operation of water-saving projects in accordance with market-oriented principles, and protect their legitimate rights and interests.
“After paying large project subsidies, although we have experienced slight losses since 2021, our cash flow situation remains stable, ensuring the healthy operation of the project.” Mou Zhengpeng said that in the future, we will continue to promote water-saving Xiaomi through funding, projects, and other forms. The funds are mainly used to subsidize the investment, processing, and transportation of water-saving facilities for millet farmers, further increasing their income and enhancing their enthusiasm for participating in environmental governance.