450 Modern Agricultural Reforms
with environment protection, i.e. by stabilizing food production, adjusting eco-
logical structure, protecting the environment and increasing income.
Ecological benefits
Through the construction of an ecoagriculture county, forest coverage was raised
from 5.7 per cent in 1983 to 19.6 per cent in 1993 and, thus, atmospheric quality
was also greatly ameliorated. Soil erosion was controlled, sources of drinking water
were managed and improved, and agriculturally disastrous weather was decreased.
In low mountain areas, 100,000 mu of bamboo entered the stage of canopy clo-
sure, 10 million plants of tung oil tree in the middle and remote mountains began
to produce oil, and about 50,000 mu of orchard and 100 million mulberry trees
are having positive effects on the environment.
Economic benefits
Through a nine-year construction period from 1984 to 1993, great progress in the
agroeconomy of Dazu County has been made. The financial income was increased
from 180.4 million yuan RMB in 1983 to 631.4 million yuan in 1993. Local
financial input to agriculture was also enhanced from 1.59 million yuan in 1983
to 4.24 million yuan in 1993. The total income from the countryside reached 1.4
billion yuan, and was raised as much as 5.7 times. In 1993, the total production of
food was 455 million kg, an increase of 22.7 per cent. In 1993, 3.988 million tons
of fish was caught, which was 2.7 times that of 1983. As regards fruit production,
this were 8.198 million kg or 2.7 times more than in 1983. The output of tung
tree oil shot up to 2 million kg, 9.7 times more than in 1983.
Social benefits
Dazu was awarded the honour of Advance Unit of Agroenvironmental Protection
by the Ministry of Agriculture, and was one of the approved 51 ecoagriculture
counties. Many organizations and people, including many professors, specialists
and students from over ten countries, showed their appreciation for these achieve-
ments. In addition, the construction of an ecoagriculture county accelerated the
exploitation of natural resources and the development of sectors other than agri-
culture. Consciousness of environmental protection was further strengthened so
that the degree of scientific decision making in agriculture was improved.
Perspectives
Based on the experiences gained in the pilot counties, the different models should
be developed and implemented in accordance with various physical and economic
conditions. We have summarized some of the main factors that need to be consid-
ered in further construction of eco-counties in all areas of China (Li et al, 1994).