452 Modern Agricultural Reforms
main task for eco-county construction is integrated manipulation of drought,
floods, salinization and alkalization through effective utilization of water resources,
rational construction of irrigation and drainage; effective use of straw and residues
of crops, as well as the development of multi-layer and multi-component agroani-
mal husbandry systems.
- South China red soil hills and low-mountains region
This area comprises the southern part of the subtropical zone and the lower reaches
of the Changjiang River basin, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, the northern part of
Zhejiang and southern part of Hubei and Anhui Provinces. The organic matter in
soil decomposes and leaches out rapidly. So, in spite of the nutrients accumulating
quickly in the red earth, it contains only a small amount of organic matter with a
high degree of acidity. It has weak water and fertility preservation capacity and is
apt to be washed away or dried out. The main task for construction of an eco-
county is to develop comprehensive models combining various sectors in order to
fully use the natural resources and, at the same time, protect soil from erosion, and
mitigate environmental degradation. - South-west China region
This region comprises the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, west of the
Guizhou Plateau, the Sichuan basin, almost all of Yunnan Province and the south-
western part of Sichuan Province. It is influenced by the monsoon from the west
and east, the weather is warm and clear in winter with heavy rainfall in summer.
The main task for eco-county development is to raise the efficiency of water and
land resources through the development of IFS. Special attention should be paid
to introducing high-value cash crops and strengthening the linkage between agri-
culture and the processing industry so as to increase the value of commercial prod-
ucts. - North-western region
This consists of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the western part of the Inner
Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Gansu Corridor, the Qilian Mountains and
the Chaidamu Basin in Qinghai Province. Located in the central part of the Asian
continent, this region receives little precipitation of uneven distribution. For con-
struction of an eco-county, the first priority should be construction of irrigation
systems and development of water-saving agriculture. Overall allocation and dif-
ferent combinations of cereal crops, afforestation and grass-planting are particu-
larly important. Appropriate measures to fix sand dunes and control salinity should
be incorporated. - South China tropical region
This region encircles the south of China, i.e. the southern part of Guangdong, the
Guangxi plateau and the Tibetan Autonomous Region on the mainland, the island
of Haina and part of Taiwan. With its high temperatures, abundant rain, and vast