Yulin develops water-saving agriculture

The drip irrigation project in Yangshikua village, Mizhi county. [Photo/Yulin Daily]

Yulin, once known as the "Desert City", has transformed into a major "ecological granary" in Shaanxi province thanks to its pioneering efforts to develop water-saving agriculture.

In 2022, Yulin launched a five-year action plan focused on optimizing water resource utilization. This initiative is guided by principles such as maximizing rainwater use, optimizing surface water, using groundwater, and preserving soil moisture.

One standout example is Yangshikua village in Mizhi county, which implemented a "four-in-one" drip irrigation project, reducing water usage per mu by 30 percent. This year, the village has completed drip irrigation facilities across its 490 mu (32.67 hectares) of farmland.

In Xiaojihan town, Yuyang district, located in the Mu Us Desert, a water-saving initiative is also underway. The extensive use of smart drip irrigation and water-fertilizer integration has significantly enhanced corn yield and quality, facilitating the integration of the corn and livestock industries.

In Jingbian county, water-saving irrigation technology has enabled the creation of a 10,000-mu vegetable base. Meanwhile, Hengshan district's "rice-fish integrated green circular model" has been recognized as a national exemplary case. In Suide county, the combination of water-saving irrigation with red date cultivation has improved both the quality and yield of red dates.

Yulin plans to expand its high-efficiency dryland water-saving agriculture by 597,300 mu this year, with the aim of saving 25 million cubic meters of water annually and reducing fertilizer usage by 2,000 metric tons.

From 2022 to 2024, Yulin expanded its high-efficiency dryland water-saving agriculture project area by 484,700 mu, 647,500 mu, and 719,300 mu, respectively.