Prof. Wang Hao, Acting Chair of GWP China Region, Mr. Zheng Rugang, Coordinator GWP China Region, and the accompanying GWP China Regional Secretariat staff, had exchanged ideas and discussed with the Water Resources Department of Shaanxi Province about the survey objectives and places as well as the overall arrangement.
The survey map was designed from the South, Middle to the North of Shaanxi Province, respectively in Hanzhong, Xianyang and Yulin areas. Shaanxi Province is located in an important position that connects East China and Central China as well as Northwest and Southwest China.Lying north-south high, intermediate low, Shaanxi has many landforms such as highland, mountainous region, plain and basin.The geography of the area is described as desert in the north along the border with Inner Mongolia, the Loess Plateau in the central part of the province, the Qinling Mountain running east to west in the south central part, and subtropical climate south of the Qinling Mountain. Qinling Mountain, as the boundary of climate for South and North China, traverses the province from east to west. Qinling Mountain has the Yellow River water system to its north; with main branches include Kuyue River, Wuding River, Yanhe River, Luohe River and Jinghe River (branch of Weihe River) from north to south. Qinling has Yangtze River water system to its south, such as Jialing River, Hanjiang River and Danjiang River.
The survey group visited Xixiang County of Hanzhong, Jingyang County of Xianyang and Yuyang District of Yulin City, from South to North of Shaanxi Province. The small irrigation projects and rural drinking water situation were different in each geographical areas. The group investigated farmlands and irrigation projects, discussed with the local water authorities and the farmers, collected first-hand materials. The survey results will be managed to report to the related governmental decision-makers as references in their further planning of water investments on small irrigation areas and rural drinking water security development, in other words, on ‘last Km’ issue of the irrigation projects
Water Investment to the “Last Km”
On September 21 to 25, 2015, GWP China RWP, Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, GWP China Shaanxi PWP and Water Resources Department of Shaanxi Province conducted a on-site survey under the framework of “WACDEP: Investment on Water” to collect the data and information on implementation of national and provincial investment on water projects, particularly on small irrigation areas and rural drinking water security. The “last Km” refers to the full completion of the irrigation structures invested by the national/provincial budgets; the final beneficiaries of the water projects in rural areas are farmers. The issue of “last Km” aims at achieving the best social benefits that can reflect the publicity, fairness, response and effectiveness of policies.