Summary
1. Project Summary
Country:
The People’s Republic of China
Project title:
Enhancement of Agricultural Extension System Project
Sector:
Agriculture
Cooperation Scheme:
Technical Cooperation Project
Division in Charge:
Department of Agricultural
Development Cooperation
Total cost:
JPY490 million
Partner Country’s Implementing Organization:
Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture of
Sichuan Province, and Bureau of Agriculture of Zigong City Period of
Cooperation
(R/D):
1999.3.1—2004.2.29
(Extension): None
(F/U): None Supporting Organization in Japan:
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Other
Implementing
Organizations
The National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center (NATESC), The
Agricultural Technology Extension Service Centers of Sichuan Province and Zigong
city, The Chengdu 1 and 2 Agricultural Science Institutes
1-1 Background and Summary of the Project
To address issues encountered in agricultural technology promotion, enhance agricultural technology
extension activities, and apply results of agricultural research and practical technologies in agricultural
production, the Chinese government and the Japanese government jointly implemented the Enhancement
of Agricultural Extension System Project (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”).
Through five years of implementation, the Project developed the capacity of agricultural technology
extension staff and farmer technicians on agricultural technology extension in pilot sites (Jinniu Township
of Jinniu District, Tashui Town of Wenjiang County, Zigong Agricultural Science Institute, Longtan Town
of Rongxian County, Baimiao Town of Rongxian County, Daisi Town of Fushun County). The Project
validated and established new and effective modes of agricultural technology extension through actual
cases.
1-2 Project Overview
The Project covers four aspects: 1) investigation, analysis and evaluation of agricultural production
and management in the Project sites, and preparation of agricultural technology promotion plans based on
the results; 2) validation tests and demonstrations in two centers of Sichuan Province and of Zigong City;
3) Joint assessment by Chinese and Japanese experts on the needs of agricultural technology extension
staff on training and education, preparation of on-the-job training plans at local levels, compilation of
training materials, and implementation of on-the-job training sessions to improve the skills of agricultural
technology extension staff; 4) analysis and assessment of the Sichuan Agricultural Technology Extension
Service Center, the Zigong Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center and the NATESC on the
current methods of processing agricultural technology information, and introduction of improved methods
for processing agricultural technology information to facilitate communication of agricultural technology
information.
1) Overall goal
To enhance establishment of the national agricultural technology extension service system and
facilitate extension and application of agricultural technology through dissemination of successful
1experience in the Project sites.
2) Project Purpose
To improve the capacity of agricultural technology extension staff on extension and guidance, and
build an extension system in which agricultural technology is effectively transferred to farmers.
3) Outputs
1) Preparation of extension plans on related technical subjects
2) Implementation of extension activities based on tests and demonstrations
3) Improvement of Capacity of agricultural technology extension staff on guidance
4) Utilization of effective agricultural technology information
4) Inputs
Japan:
8 long-term experts and 12 short-term experts in 4 themes
29 trainees for training in Japan
Equipments (JPY92.19 million)
Study on farming (JPY40.76 million)
China:
Designation of 34 staff
Costs (CNY64.1 million)
Provision of housing, land, office and demonstration farmlands
2. Evaluation Team
Member Li Wei (Deputy GM, Beijing Wanyang Consulting Co., Ltd.)
Period of
Evaluation
December 25, 2006 – December 29, 2006 Type of Evaluation:
Ex-post evaluation
3. Results of the Evaluation
3-1 Summary of the Evaluation
1) Relevance
After completion of the Project, the Chinese government has enhanced the efforts in establishing the
agricultural technology extension system and farmers’needs for agricultural technology have increased. It
is recognized that the Project is still relevant to date.
2) Impact
z Facilitation of the realization of the overall goal
In the later stage of the Project, the Ministry of Agriculture started pilots of reform of the agricultural
technology extension system in 12 provinces including Sichuan, Shanxi, Liaoning and Shandong. The
successful experience and effective methods from the Project provided reference for the reform of
agricultural technology extension system at local levels.
After completion of the Project, the provincial Department of Agriculture started pilots in areas
around Chengdu. 70% of the agricultural technology extension staff accepted related training, 80% of the
counties applied validation tests and validation demonstration methods in extension and application of
agricultural technology extension; 500 cross-township regional stations have been set up, with their public
duties and fee-based services identified and differentiated. The public duties of the regional stations were
2defined, and regional stations will be built all over the province in 2007.
Through the Project implementation, the concept of "extension is education" has been deeply
recognized by agricultural technology extension agencies and agricultural technology extension staff. The
activities of the Project covered study on farming, validation test, validation demonstration, training and
education, agricultural technology information service which made agricultural technology extension
activities operational. The reports, manuals and wall charts of the Project were delivered and utilized to all
counties in the province after the completion of the Project.
z Forward-looking
On the evaluation, local agricultural technology extension staff acknowledged that the Project is not
only consistent with national policies but also forward-looking. Building regional stations under the
Project coincided with the No. 30 document of the State Council. The education on quality and safety of
agricultural products under the Project for farmers covered by the Project was ahead of the Law of the
People's Republic of China on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, which became effective in
November 1, 2006.
z Impact on traditional agricultural practices
Upon completion of the Project, farmers adopted the grafted technology such as "vegetable-rice"
continuous cropping and "vegetable - vegetable" continuous cropping recommended under the Project so
that they enjoyed benefits of twin high outputs, twin high efficiencies, and twin harvests. Farmers in the
Project area have deep awareness of environmentally friendly food and no-hazard vegetables, and they
have also accumulated technical experience.
The objective of agricultural production has shifted from mere increase in output to improvement of
quality. The area of no-hazard rice plantation in Zigong has increased. from 20,000 mu in 1998 to 130,000
mu, that of premium fruits has increased by 40,000 mu, and that of premium vegetable has increased by
30,000 mu. It is observed that the residual pesticides and contents of heavy metals have dropped
significantly, and the quality and safety of agricultural products have been significantly improved.
z Emerging new agricultural cooperative organizations
Agricultural technology extension staff in Longtan Town initiated and founded a vegetable association
which attracts vegetable planters in the city. The association has obtained trade mark protection and
no-hazard product certification for vegetable production and sale. Now, incomes from vegetables take up
1/3 of annual incomes of farmers. New agricultural cooperative organizations are to demonstrate their
vigor and power along with the final release of the Law of Specialized Farmer Cooperatives.
z Impact on farmers
The Project implementation has increased the crop production by 5% and improved crop quality in the
Project area. Agricultural products became safer due to reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides,
and farmer incomes have increased. The increase rate of farmer incomes in Zigong City is higher than the
provincial average. The improvement in production, quality and safety of crops in the Project area is
closely associated with the Project implementation.
Though Sichuan Province suffered from a heavy draught in 2006, both the agricultural production and
farmer incomes in Longtan covered by the Project were not impaired. Agricultural activities are made less
laborious with technologies such as casting of rice seedlings and zero tillage promoted under the Project.
Some impoverished farmer households adopted new technologies to plant economic crops and got rid of
3poverty within 1-2 years.
The Bureau of Agriculture of Zigong city has improved awareness of the importance of training and
education for farmers. The Bureau of Agriculture of Zigong city disseminates agricultural technology to
farmers via mobile phone, radio, TV and so on.
z Impact on agricultural technology extension staff
The Project implementation has established respect for farmers and farmer-service concepts among
agricultural technology extension staff. Their working principle have shifted from just following the upper
organizations to assist, guide and educate farmers in learning and understanding of new technology based
on the interests and wishes of farmers. Agricultural technology extension staff became used to preparation
of careful a