Alleviating rural poverty through innovative technology transfer :: United Nations Development Programme

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Alleviating rural poverty through innovative technology transfer

The Challenge

China has been the world’s fastest growing economy over the past two decades, with real GDP growth at an average rate of 9.4% annually and per capita incomes rising threefold. However, accompanying the growth is broadened disparity between urban and rural areas. Statistics like the income growth ratio and other social development indicators reflect the disparity. A low level of efficiency in the agricultural sector, a slow and inadequate transfer and adoption rate of modern science and technology in rural areas, and the limited opportunities to increase farmers’ income are all challenges facing China as the country attempts to build a Xiaokang society by 2020 and a new socialist countryside. One of the keys to achieving these goals is successfully transforming the structure of the agricultural industry and to increase farmer income through science and technology support.

The Response

The project is designed to link farmers with innovative, environmentally-friendly, non-polluting technologies in order to increase their income and enhance sustainable development in rural China. To do this, the project will set up Technical Task Forces (TTFs) that will not only introduce better technologies to farmers but also better organizational methods. As part of this, joint ventures, such as ‘common interest economic entities,’ will be established to help farmers migrate from producing for sustenance to methods that are more market-focused. Funding for TTFs will come from many sources, including direct assistance, bank loans, private investments, and private sector partnerships.

The TTFs will generate new job opportunities in local communities and allow agriculture technology experts from government agencies, academies, research institutes, and other organizations to participate more effectively in helping farmers out of poverty. In the TTFs, these experts will partner with farmers in market-oriented agricultural or village cooperatives, providing incentives for them to take a more active role in ensuring the success of farmers.

The TTF will change how farmers are introduced to new agriculture technologies by exposing them to technologies and technical services that they demand and that are more locally relevant, as opposed to generic solutions adopted nationwide. The TTFs will look to build partnerships with international organizations and the private sector to acquire the latest technologies and best practices.

This project is also aiming at establishing a platform for policy recommendations, partnership, resource mobilization and knowledge management in order to introduce technologies, attract investment and share the best practices for science and technology support to rural development in China.

Full Project Phase:2006--2010
Executing Agency: China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE)
Cooperating Agency: Ministry of Science and Technology

UNDAF: Outcome 1 Socio-economic policies are developed and improved to be more scientifically-based and human centred for sustainable and equitable growth

Outcome 3. More efficient management of natural resources and development of environmentally friendly behaviour in order to ensure environmental sustainability

MDG Goal: Goal 1 Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 3 Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability

Budget: US$ 4,000,000
UNDP Budget: US$ 1,000,000
Government Cost Sharing : US$ 3,000,00

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