The Summary of Terminal Evaluation
1.

Outline of the Project
Project Name:Research and Development ProjectCountry:

People's Republic of China

for Sustainable Agricultural Technology in People's
Republic of China: 2nd Phase Development andExtension of Eco-friendly Agriculture Technology
Cooperation

Agriculture

Sector:Division in
Charge:Scheme:Cooperation

Project

Field Crop Based Farming Area

Total Cost:

Group,

427 million yen

Rural

Technical

Development

Department
Executing

Agency:ChineseAcademyof1

Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) , Department ofAgriculture, Ministry of Agriculture
Cooperating Agencies of Japanese Side:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries
Period of
Cooperation:(R/D): April 2009 – March 2014

Related

Projects:

Grant

Aid

Projectfor‘Japan-China Research and Development Center for
Agriculture Technology’ (2000)
Technical

Cooperation

Project‘Research

andDevelopment Project for Sustainable Agriculture
Technology

inPeople's

Republicof

China’(2002-2007)
1-1 Background of the Project
People's Republic of China (PRC) enjoys dynamic economic development since the Reform andthe Open-Door Policy. On the other hand rapid industrial development resulted in rapid environmental
disruption and pollution. Agriculture sector has enjoyed considerable rise in production efficiency bymassive increase of agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizer, pesticides, and agricultural film,that led to contamination of water system e.g. rivers and swamps and soil. The Government of PRC
takes countermeasures of improving legal systems for reducing application of pesticides and chemicalfertilizer and for emission standards. However, the nature of agricultural contamination, being
distributed in extension range with its possible causes untraceable, attracted minimum concern until
relatively recently. As a result necessary research efforts in monitoring and identifying the causes ofcontamination marked its beginning. In fact the countermeasures are yet to have much outcome while
utilization of chemical fertilizer and pesticide is on an increasing trend.
Meanwhile the eco-friendly agricultural technologies for production and management, which
was developed in the Phase 1 of this Project for the purpose of reducing the use of the agricultural
1

Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, formerly Japan-China Research and Development Center for
Agriculture Technology, under CAAS is primary counterpart agency.

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inputs, saw a certain level of success by the end of Phase 1. In view of applying and expanding thepositive outputs of the research and development efforts in the earlier phase, it is required to utilize
and promote the developed technologies through applying it to meet the local needs.
Under such background, the Government of PRC requested technical cooperation ofstrengthening its countermeasures to environmental contamination of agricultural origin to theGovernment of Japan, which went through similar experiences during the rapid economic
development. The Government of Japan started a five year project since April 2009 with long-term
JICA Experts (Chief Advisor, Eco-friendly Agricultural Technology, Coordinator/Extension ofAgriculture Technology, Extension of Eco-friendly Agricultural Technology, and Short-term Experts)
for the implementation of research and development activities for eco-friendly agriculture
technologies.
1-2 Project Overview
By means of establishing Continuous monitoring and evaluation system in the Model Areas2,
development and verification of eco-friendly agricultural technologies through multidisciplinary
research3, and identification of measures for extending the technologies in Model Areas, eco-friendly
agricultural technologies are systematized4 in the Model Areas.
(1) Overall Goal
Water and soil contamination attributed to agriculture is prevented or improved with a focus upon
Model Areas(2) Project Purpose
Eco-friendly agricultural technologies are systematized in the Model Areas(3) Outputs
Output 1 Continuous monitoring and evaluation system of Model Areas is establishedOutput 2 Eco-friendly agricultural technologies(technologies reducing soil and watercontamination) are developed in the Model Areas
Output 3 Eco-friendly agricultural technologies are verified through multidisciplinary research in
the Model Areas
Output 4 For the proved eco-friendly agricultural technologies in Output 3, measures to promoteextension are identified in the Model Areas

2

Model Areas are located in Hunan province （Yueyang）, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region （Qingtongxia and Lingwu）, and Shandong
province. Model Sites are the sites and/or the farm plots of cooperative, agricultural enterprises, farmers, and/or experimental plot,
where the demonstrations of eco-friendly agricultural technologies are conducted in the Model Areas.
3
Multidisciplinary research in this Project is a research method of eco-friendly agricultural technologies conducting farmer participating
demonstrations incorporating viewpoints of not only natural science and but also socio-economic aspect e.g. economic ones.
4
Systematization in this Project means a situation where monitoring, development, and demonstrations of eco-friendly agricultural
technologies are conducted and the technologies become ready for extension.

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(4)Inputs
Japanese side:(Unit: Japanese Yen)

1) Dispatch of Experts
Long-term Experts

6 personsShort-term Experts

30 person2) Local Cost (As of June 2013)
Approx. 43.8 million yen
3) Machinery and Equipment
Materials and equipment

Approx. 40 million yen

4) Counterpart (C/P) Training
Training in Japan80 persons

Chinese side:(Unit: Japanese Yen)
1) C/P Assigned
80 persons
2) Local Cost (As of July 2013)
262 million yen53) Land space and facility-

Project office-Land space and storage for facility for piloting and demo farms in Pilot Sites

4) Other in-kind input-

Utility (electricity and water supply), telephone and internet fee, and maintenance cost for
Project Office and equipment and materials provided(1RMB= 16.7 Japanese Yen as of September 2013)2.

Terminal Evaluation Team

Members of<Japanese Side>

Evaluation

Mr. Noriaki Nagatomo

Leader

Deputy Director to Director General,

Team:

Rural Development Department, JICA
Ms.Naho Aizu

Cooperation

Field Crop Based Farming Area Division

Planning

Rural Development Department, JICA

5 Exchange rates are 1 RMB=12.5186 Japanese yen until Japanese fiscal year （FY） 2012, and 1 RMB=16.343 Japanese yen for FY
2013.

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Ms. Noriko Ishibashi

Evaluation

Consultant,AnalysisIC Net Limited

Leader

Deputy Director General, International<Chinese Side>Mr. Xiaoping Lu

Potato Center, Regional Office for East,
Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ESEAP)
Dr. Jinmin Hao

MemberProfessor, College of Resources andEnvironmental Sciences, Department ofLand

Resource

Management,

China

Agricultural University
Dr. Lixin Zhao

MemberDirector,

InstituteEnvironmentofEnergyProtection,

andChineseAcademy of Agricultural Engineering,
Ministry of Agriculture
Period of

25 August – 6 September 2013

Type of Evaluation: Terminal Evaluation

Evaluation:
3.

Results of Evaluation

3-1

Achievement of the Project(1) Project Purpose:
Among the 12 targeted technologies6 for research and development activities, seven are
expected to complete the proposal for making ready for extension. At the time of Terminal
Evaluation in Sep 2013, the proposals of three technologies (zero-emission pig raisingtechnology, drip fertilization technology, and Utilization technology of slow-release fertilizer
in protected cultivation), have already been developed and the rest of four are expected to beready by the termination of the Project. Since one proposal per Model Area is to be achieved
according to the indicator, therefore the Project Purpose is to be achieved during the Project
period.
In addition, it is understood that the technologies which obtained international certification
and/or provincial7 standards have already satisfied the conditions for extension. Thus thelevel of achieving the Project Purpose is judged to be high.
(2) Outputs
1) Output 1: Continuous monitoring and evaluation system of Model Areas is establishedOutput 1 is expected to be achieved by the Project termination.
6

Side dressing rice farming technology, recycling technology of straw, utilization technology of methane fermentation digested liquid,zero-emission pig raising technology, spot dressing technology （partial mixing and applying technology in the ridge）, eco-friendly
tomato cultivation technology, drip fertilization technology, utilization technology of slow-release fertilizer in protected cultivation,cleanup technology of soil contaminant （adsorbent）, border irrigation, and analytical technology at global standard level （analysis ofheavy-metal, agricultural chemical, and anti-biotics）.
7
PRC’ administrative structure in the Province is Province/Region, prefecture, county, township, and villagexii

･ Water quality is monitored and analyzed by automated monitoring system in themonitoring points allocated in Model Areas and it is analyzed by automated data
analysis program. C/Ps summarized contamination distribution and causes ofcontamination and so on. Analytical capabilities of water quality test reached tointernational standard, obtained the certification from Environmental Protection Agency
of United State of America8. For soil analysis, the Project conducts analysis of nitrogen,phosphate and heavy-metal content and concentration.
･ The data collection of phosphate concentration faced some difficulty (See Output 2 fordetails) however, the sampling and analysis methods of water and soil and system ofconducting regular monitoring and analysis are systematized.
･ These monitoring and analysis methods for water and soil are to be compiled in two
manuals respectively so that the systematization of monitoring and analysis is to be inplace. Therefore Output 1 is expected to be achieved.
2) Output 2: Eco-friendly agricultural technologies(technologies reducing soil and watercontamination) are developed in the Model Areas
Output 2 is almost achieved.
･ The four indicators of Output 2 has target figure for reducing chemical fertilizer
utilization, agriculture waste recycling rate, amount of irrigation water saving, nitrogenand phosphate reduction in irrigation drain water and soil solution. The indicators aremostly achieved except for the one for phosphate reduction in soil solution. Phosphatemeasurement in soil solution in the fourth indicator requires real time analysis in time ofraining and so on so that it was not gathered in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region andShandong Province. However, the data of the other chemical elements of ammonia
nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total nitrogen have almost achieved the targeted reduction
rate in the indicator in all three Model Areas.
･ The eco-friendly agricultural technologies which achieved the above indicators have
proved its effectiveness in reducing water and soils contamination, therefore it is judgedthat these technologies are successfully developed through the demonstration.
3) Output 3: Eco-friendly agricultural technologies are verified through multidisciplinary
research in the Model Areas
Output 3 is expected to be achieved since four out of five indicators are achieved while thelast one is to be achieved.
･ Five indicators are the followings: identification of more than five Model Sites, morethan 10 farmers participating in demonstrations for each technology, economic
evaluation (cost calculation) for each of targeted technologies, and training of
in-country and abroad. All the indicators are mostly achieved or expected to be achieved

8

Certified by a certification agency named RTC.

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but one, which is number of participating farmers in demonstration conducted in
Shandong Province.
･ This Project developed 12 eco-friendly technologies, the nine out of which conductedfarmer-participating

demonstrations.

Those

technologies

arestudiesthroughmultidisciplinary demonstrations in all of the three Model Areas therefore it is judgedthat Output 3 is expected to be achieved.
4) Output 4: For the proved eco-friendly agricultural technologies in Output 3, measures topromote extension are identified in the Model Areas
Output 4 is expected to be achieved since one of two indicators is already achieved and thelast one is to be achieved by the end of Project term.
･ The first one out of two indicators is to publicize information on Japanese eco-friendly
agricultural technologies via website. Meanwhile the second one is to make a proposal
indicating effect and cost of introducing the technology, and suggesting possible target
groups and areas, and possible measures of extension e.g. provision of subsidy. The firstindicator is already achieved as related information regarding Japanese eco-friendly
technologies is publicized via CAAS website. In addition, the proposals are ready forthree out of seven technologies, and the ones for rest of four are to be completed by thetermination of the Project. Therefore it is judged that Output 4 is mostly achieved.
3-2

Summary of Evaluation(1) RelevanceFor the following reasons, relevance of this Project is judged to be high.
upgrading･ The 12th Socio-Economic Development Plan (2011-2015) highlighted improvement of planningand management capacity of local level government, strengthening of rural basic infrastructure
construction, improvement of rural public service, and total development of rural environment
in its seventh chapter on ‘Production and livelihood improvement in rural areas’. The last plan,
total development of rural environment indicated the importance of countermeasures against
non-point pollution, and prevention of soil pollution. Therefore the Project is highly relevant to
the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In addition, CCAC the counterpart(C/P) organization was established to serve policy makers through provision of necessary
evidences on agriculture technologies, thereby meeting the needs of C/P agency.
･ Japan’s policy of Official Development Assistance (ODA) toward PRC has four priority sectorsof cooperation: global environmental issue including taking measures to environment problemsof regional scale, support for open-door policy, promotion of mutual understanding, anddisaster reconstruction of Shichuan Great Earthquake. This Project is one of technicalassistance related to the efforts against environmental pollution affecting domestic and abroad
under umbrella of ‘countermeasures to environmental issue’. Therefore this Project is also
along with Japan’s ODA policy.

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(2) Effectiveness
Effectiveness of the Project is judged to be high. The targeted technologies have reached to thestage of extension as a few of targeted ones are at the stage of extension.
･ Two Provinces amongst the three Areas, two technologies in Shangong Province and one in Huna
Province, already submitted the proposals along with the indicator of the Project Purpose. The
one for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is to be completed by the end of the Project term.
･ Furthermore, the introduction and further application of side dressing rice farming technology
and zero-emission pig farming technology are on the way after the successful demonstrations.
･ High level of achieving four Outputs contributed to achievement of Project Purpose.
(3) Efficiency
The efficiency of this Project is judged to be high.
・ An overall level of achieving four Outputs is high from the viewpoint of satisfying theindicators: 9 amongst 11 indicators are mostly achieved or to be achieved by the end of the
Project.
・ The amount of resources from both Japanese and Chinese sides, assignment of humanresources for Chinese C/Ps and Japanese Experts, provision of equipment and machinery andallocation of local operational costs from both sides were provided mostly according to theplan. For the timing of providing inputs, the timing of providing a side dressing rice planter for
Hunan Province was delayed due to delayed procurement (The original plan is two rice
planters in 2010), which in turn resulted in shorter demonstration period in Hunan Provincethan the plan. Also the C/P training in Japan faced one year delay after the accident at Nuclear
Power Stations in Fukushima in 2011. However, neither of these delays caused serious
disturbance in achieving the Outputs.
(4) Impact
Although the prospect of achieving Overall Goal is yet to be concluded at this stage, some oftechnologies began to show the sign of achieving the Overall Goal while foreseeing positive
economic impact during its demonstrations.
・ The indicators for Overall Goal are not yet achieved. For the horizontal expansion of theeco-friendly technologies in the first indicator, a local government under Ningxia HuiAutonomous Region has a plan of extending side dressing rice farming technology (2000 mu9
for 2014 according to its plan), therefore it is understood synonymous with approval as anextension project. Furthermore, a group of C/P in CAAS with an agricultural enterprise areconducting demonstration of spot dressing technology (partial mixing and applying technology
in the ridge) in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for further expansion. For the second
indicator on environmental load caused by agriculture-oriented non-point source pollution, thedata itself is technically difficult to grasp so that it is not available for calculation.

9

Mu is an area unit and 1 mu = 0.067 ha.

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・ The economic calculations of demonstrations for spot dressing technology (partial mixing andapplying technology in the ridge), side dressing rice farming technology, drip fertilization
technology, Utilization technology of slow-release fertilizer in protected cultivation, recycling
technology of straw showed the increase of the sales profit of participating farmer-stakeholders(farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural enterprises 10 ), therefore there is a prospect of
producing positive economic impact in addition to showing a ripple effect of the technologies.
(5) Sustainability
Sustainability of the Project is judged to be high on the whole. The eco-friendly agricultural
technologies which reached to extension stage have high level of sustainability. Meanwhile theother ones need organizational and budgetary support for further study.
・ Policy Aspect: No significant modification to the related policy in the sector is expected forneither of PRC nor Japanese side. The importance of promoting eco-friendly agricultural
technologies is to be highlighted in the policy of the Government of PRC.
・ Institutional and financial Aspect: the C/Ps are researchers in eco-friendly agricultural
technology development so that their continuous engagement in this sector is highly likely. If
C/Ps can allocate necessary budget for running demonstrations via various national projects,
the studies in eco-friendly agricultural technology would be maintained. However thecontinuation of on-going demonstrations for the technologies yet to be proved its effectivenessis indeterminable.
・ Technical aspect: The technology of monitoring and analysis of water and soil is to be
maintained. The accumulated various data and papers, and the introduced eco-friendly
technologies may even provide a seed for further research and development activities. The
transfer of the C/Ps influences sustainability of technical knowledge.
3-3

Facilitating Factors(1) Plan of the ProjectNot particularly(2) Implementation Process
・ One of facilitating factors was, although the condition differs from one technology to the other,
providing a well-substantiated proof of the effectiveness (in terms of yield and profit,
applicability of technologies to the existing farming practices and so on) during thedemonstrations. Then it led to the support from local government and so on, concrete examplesof which are demonstrations in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region which was the target areas of
the first Phase. Successful demonstrations facilitated the understanding of local government
officers toward the new eco-friendly technologies, which then resulted in establishing closer
10

Cooperative is a commercial organization and alliances of famers/residents, and laborers. Agricultural enterprise is an enterprisecoordinating and managing farmers and generating revenue through market. （Japan External Trade Organization 2010 ‘Advanced
examples of agriculture in PRC （original in Japanese）’）

xvirelationship with the local government at the levels of Region, prefecture, county, township,and village.
・ The training in Japan provided opportunities for the participating officers from C/P agencies
from central to local levels to eyed the advanced eco-friendly technologies in Japan, whichwere already applied and proved its effectiveness in the local level (city, town, and village
level). Their experiences in Japan attracted their attentions to introducing the technology.
3-4

Obstructing Factors(1) Plan of the ProjectNot particularly(2) Implementation Process
Not particularly
3-5

Conclusion
This Project has mostly completed research and development activities of the targeted
eco-friendly agricultural technologies and is expected to achieve the planned Outputs and the
Project Purpose. Therefore the effectiveness of the Project is high. In addition, the Project has
expanded the areas of demonstrations for some technologies in Ningxia Hui Autonomous
Region under collaboration not only with C/P agencies but also with provincial levelgovernment offices concerned. It also has a sign of ripple effect for the extension to the otherareas of PRC. Having said this the Project has achieved more than expected Outputs. Therefore
the Project is terminated in March 2014 according to the plan.

3-6

Recommendations(1) Activities to be completed by the end of the Project
Amongst the 12 targeted technologies, it is necessary to prioritize the rest of activities andefforts to be done in the Project term for the technologies that are yet to reaching the extension
stage. Priority setting may depend upon the level of completion and promisingness of thetechnologies. Also it is necessary to complete proposals for the following technologies, which
has high priority, and to prepare a case study of extension: side dressing rice farming for bothof Hunan Province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, recycling technology of straw, andborder irrigation.
(2) Recording and organizing extension process
Aiming to utilize the lessons to the other areas, it is recommended to record the structure of
conducting demonstration and the working process with agricultural enterprises andcooperatives for the technologies at demonstration stage but in wider area and/or at extension
stage. It is particularly so for side dressing rice farming technology in Ningxia HuiAutonomous Region. For the production of side dressing rice planter, it is necessary toxviicontinue further effort for reducing cost and expansion to wider area.
(3) Sharing the Overall Goal and its indicators among the stakeholders
It is recommended that the Overall Goal and one of its indicators to be amended. The
amendments are required to be shared among the primary stakeholders of the Project.
(4) Further efforts on public information sharing on eco-friendly technology
In view of promoting eco-friendly agricultural technologies after the Project termination, it isdesirable to support further expansion of the existing support system such as government
subsidy and to conduct further information sharing with farmers about eco-friendly
technology.
3-7Lessons Learnt(1) Coordination and collaboration aiming for extension of technology at earlier stage
Emphasizing the coordination and collaboration amongst research institutions and governmentorganizations at earlier stage of the demonstration facilitates the development of more practicaltechnology and also shortens the process of its diffusion and extension.
(2) Collaboration between the research institutions and local government organization
In an effort where research institutions working on extension, an approach of accumulating theresults of farmer-participating demonstrations is an effective option with the local government
collaboration.
(3) Effectiveness of demonstration
Further improvement in effectiveness of demonstration might be possible when the targeted
farmers’ receptiveness to the technology and adoptability to incurred cost of inputs andmachinery are well considered in the design of demonstrations.
(4) Demonstration and public relations of technologies aiming for extension
In view of extending the technology which is compatible with profitability (maintaining andimproving) and environmental conservation, it is important to set various opportunities aiming
to diffuse its technical advantages to government offices, and private sectors of agricultural
enterprises and manufacturers of farm machinery during the cultivation period.

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