Project gives farmers stable water supply

Irrigation area brings better yields, prosperity and solves disputes in Yunnan

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

For generations, farmers in the Bingjian irrigation area in Yunnan province's Yuanmou county had to perform a laborious irrigation ballet, a delicate dance of cooperation and shared sacrifice heavily reliant on two reservoirs.

Every 15 to 20 days during the irrigation seasons, the reservoirs' sluice gates would open, bringing a sigh of relief to the farmers of the 7,600 hectares of farmland in the area, where the evaporation rate is six times that of rainfall. The water release, however, would only last for a week, forcing farmers to race against time to irrigate in turn, remaining ever vigilant against water theft.