• 2009 Small Grants Competition

    to adopt a cross-learning and iterative approach that will enable all researchers to learn from each other across different types of bio-innovation throughout the region.

  • Overview of the Project

    to enhance biological innovative capabilities, policies & institutions to support just, equitable & sustainable social & economic development in developing countries.

  • Bio-innovations in the NEWS

    Policy briefs and articles on relevant dimensions of bio-innovation.

Enabling bioinnovation for poverty allevation in Asia.

Rainwater harvesting in dry areas: The case of rural Gansu in China

By Prof Qiang Zhu, Sep-Oct 2008

 
The loess plateau of Gansu China is one of the driest and poorest areas of the country. The serious water scarcity caused many problems in the pastno safe - access to domestic water supply, frequent droughts and low agriculture levels, the impoverishment of the local population, land degradation and environment deterioration. Since the late 1980s, however, rainwater harvesting has been studied, demonstrated and replicated on a large scale. It has supplied water for millions of rural people to meet their basic needs, with water also to enhance crop production. It has played an important role in conserving the environment. Its importance in the sustainable development of the dry mountainous area needs to be properly appreciated. This article also gives a brief description of the RWH system.