Asia
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry:

Project title:

China

The Integrated Development Project in the Waterlogged Area in theFour-Lake Area of Jianghan Plain, Hubei Province in the People's
Republic of China

Issue/Sector:

Cooperation scheme:

Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries

Project-type Technical Cooperation

Division in charge:

Total cost:

Agricultural Technical Cooperation Division,
Agricultural Development Cooperation Department

843 Million Yen

Period of Cooperation

Partner Country's Implementing Organization:

10 January 1997 - 9January 2002

Hubei Provincial Development engineer Research Center for Lake Wet
lands Development Project

Supporting Organization in Japan:
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan

Related Cooperation:
1-1 Background of the Project
In China, the income disparity between coastal areas and inland areas was one of the major problems. In the National Plan, theGovernment of China made the development of inland areas one of the important issues. The Jianghan Plain, located in an
inland area of China, consists of sedimentary layers of the earth from Chang Jiang and its tributaries. The Four-Lake area is in
the center of the Jianghan Plain, and the waterlogged area is concentrated in the Four-Lake area. As the area was waterlogged,
there were limitations to the utilization of the land, and the methods of cultivation which were being used were not optimal. As aresult of these characteristics and the bad soil, the potential for agricultural production was not fully exploited. In order to make
optimum use of this area, the Chinese Government saw that it was necessary to develop a drainage system within theagricultural field and establish the farming techniques in the area.
Under these circumstances, the Government of China requested the Government of Japan to provide Project-type TechnicalCooperation with the aims of introducing the Japanese techniques, facilities and equipment related to the development ofwaterlogged areas, increasing the crop production of the Jianghan Plain, and demonstrating the model of development of thefreshwater swamp area.

1-2 Project Overview
To foster personnel, the Project, together with Hubei Provincial Development engineer Research Center for Lake Wet lands
Development Project (hereinafter referred to as "the Center") which was settled in the Hubei Agriculture Institute and its
agricultural test field as activity bases, improved techniques for the land utilization plan necessary to develop submerged land,transferred techniques to the engineers in Hubei and established a human resources development system through theexperimental proof at two pilot areas (one area each at Jingsha and Shenjiang).
(1) Overall Goal
Developed techniques in the Project disseminated in Jingsha and Shenjiang.

(2) Project Purpose
The personnel engaged in the development of freshwater swamps are fostered through the experimental proof of utilization
methods of submerged land development at the two pilot areas within the Four-Lake Area.
(3) Outputs
1) The techniques necessary for development of the freshwater swamp are established through the tests and experimental
validations at the pilot agricultural land and the pilot areas.
2) Human resources development system necessary for the development of a freshwater swamp is established.
(4) Inputs
Japanese side:
Long-term Experts

13

Equipment

159 Million Yen

Short-term Experts

16

Local Cost

37 Million Yen

Trainees received

23

Chinese side:
Counterparts

24

Local Cost

32.09 Million Yuan (515 Million Yen)

2. Evaluation Team
Members of Evaluation Team Leader/General; Mitsuo SEKI, Land Improvement Engineering Office, Kanto Bureau, Ministry
Teamof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of JapanLand Use Planning/Drainage Project; Takashi IIJIMA, Japanese Institute of Irrigation and Drainage
Agriculture; Hatsuo MIYASAKA, Deputy Director, International Office, Administration Division,Agricultural Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
Planning Evaluation; Kenjiro FUTAGAMI, Staff, Agricultural Technical Cooperation Division,
Agricultural Development Cooperation Department, JICA
Evaluation Analysis; Naomi OKADA, Foundation for Advanced Studies on International
Development
Interpreter; Hisako AOYAMA, Japan International Cooperation Agency

Period of Evaluation

11 November 2001 - 25
November 2001

Type of Evaluation:
Terminal Evaluation

3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) Relevance
The Project Purpose and its orientation are still appropriate at the final evaluation. The Chinese National Policy "the 10th Five
Year Plan for national economic development in Peorple's Republic of China" and "The 10th Five year Plan for national
economic Development in Hubei Province" emphasized the importance of the Project Purpose.
(2) Effectiveness
The techniques necessary for the freshwater swamp development were established and were published in the form of training
textbooks and guideline/technique manuals, such as manuals providing drainage plan guidance. The Chinese counterparts whodeveloped the techniques or organized training/dissemination materials, together with the Japanese experts, became thetraining instructors and developed the training curriculum in which lectures, practices and on-site visits were effectively

combined. With these outputs, the Training was implemented at the Center. Some ex-participants utilized the acquired
techniques at their works, and that the Project Purpose was accomplished. The personnel will be continuously fostered at theCenter, and they will be engaged in the development of the waterlogged area.
(3) Efficiency
The Inputs from the Japanese side were utilized quite efficiently to attain the outcomes. However, some activities were delayed,
because a long-term expert had a health problem and had to return home. What's more, there was no replacement for thisexpert in the next group of experts to arrive. The delivery and installation of some of the equipment were behind schedule, which
delayed the experiments related to the equipment. The maintenance and management of equipment at the Center appropriate.
The development of the attached facilities and drainage pump station/drainage ditch at the experimental agricultural site at theCenter were delayed. The distance between the sites was one of the problems. The Project implementation administrative office
was located at Wuhan, while the two pilot areas were located in distant cities, Jingsha and Shenjiang (both locations were onehour away by car), and the Center was located at Hubei Agricultural College (Three-hours from Wuhan by car). Because of thedistance separating Project implementing locations, it was difficult to discuss issues among the related persons, and thecommand structure was unclear, which negatively impacted on Project activities.
(4) Impact
The Overall Goal was not surveyed quantitatively. However, the ex-participants disseminated the attained techniques in theProject to the farmers and related persons and applied those techniques to achieve certain results. The multiple effects of theProject are likely to be larger as the training program progresses and the pilot areas are developed in the future.
There were other positive impacts: The Center published many research papers based on the research and survey results ofthe Project, which enhanced the academic reputation to Hubei Agricultural College. At the pilot areas, some farmers adopted
the cropping system established in the Project, and this improved agricultural productivity. The agricultural land at the Center
was developed, and its water management was well prepared. The agricultural land was cleaned up, and a clean living
environment was developed, illustrating that the importance of environmental cleanness was recognized by the related persons.
(5) Sustainability
The Center is the official provincial organization approved by Hubei and will continue to exist as a technicaldevelopment/training organization. The necessary budget to run the Center will be allocated from the official budget as well. The
techniques attained in the Project in each field reached a level where they can be maintained and further developed by related
personnel on the Chinese side. Further development of techniques is expected through the renewal and revision of the manuals
and continuing research.

3-2 Factors that promoted realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
N/A

3-3 Factors that impeded realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) The delays of the expert dispatch and the equipment delivery lowered the efficiency of the Project.
2) The fact that the counterparts were not full time workers for the Project, and that they could not concentrate fully on Projectactivities, lowered the efficiency of the Project.
3) The Project implementation administrative office was located at Wuhan, and the implementing locations were separated by aconsiderable distance, which prevented good communications. Transportation access was not good for a pilot agricultural land
project. These factors seriously lowered the efficiency of Project activities.
4) The collaboration with related organizations, especially with Water Resources Department, though essential for thedevelopment of waterlogged area was insufficient.

3-4 Conclusion
There were some major Project disruptions, such as an unexpected change in Japanese experts and Chang Jiang's massive
flood, but through the enthusiastic efforts of related personnel on both the Japanese and Chinese sides, the Project Purpose islikely to be accomplished.

3-5 Recommendations(1) To expand the Outcomes of the Project, it is necessary for the Center to continue to foster middle-class engineers as well as
to disseminate the techniques to the farmers through training courses and other activities.
(2) It is essential to collaborate with other sections and related organizations in the field for effective dissemination of theacquired techniques and their training.
(3) To promote the effects and outcomes of the Project, it is necessary for the Center to periodically report its activities andbusiness plan to the Hubei Provincial Sciences Academy and JICA Chinese Office.

3-6 Lessons Learned(1) It is recommendable that the counterparts be full time workers to promote the Project more effectively.
(2) For smooth Project implementation, it is necessary to maintain communication with the project leader of counterparts.
Therefore, it is desirable that the head office of the project and the pilot areas be located for easy access by the related persons.
It is also desirable that the pilot agricultural land be for easy access by the related persons so that the actual status of theagricultural land can be readily understood.
(3) It is necessary to implement a project such as this after having built up a system of collaboration with the relatedorganizations in order to maximize efficiency of the project and dissemination of project outcomes.

3-7 Follow-up Situation
N/A