ADB to Part-Fund Chinese Water Efficiency Project

The Asian Development Bank is to provide a $60m loan to China to part-fund water efficiency projects in three agricultural counties in the province of Qinghai.

The loan will go towards a $223.6m project to build four new main irrigation canals, branch canals and on-farm works to convert the aged small-lift irrigation systems into gravity irrigation systems.

The Chinese Government and the Qinghai provincial government will finance the remaining amount.

The project, which is expected to be completed in September 2016, will serve 140km² of agricultural land.

The project will also help set up water user associations to develop delivery schedules, promote conservation measures and help farmers improve their skills in crop production and selection.