The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$157mn loan to improve sustainable agricultural production systems in the Yellow River Basin in the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
The Yellow River Basin Green Farmland and High-Quality Agriculture Development Project will support sustainable agriculture development by enabling environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural production practices that balance food production with environmental protection and rehabilitation. It will also strengthen agricultural value chains for vital rural agribusiness.
The Yellow River Basin faces increasing challenges to balance the needs of the economy, ecology, and community, while striving to meet its sustainable development potential. The Yellow River Ecological Corridor (YREC) program was initiated by ADB in 2021 to protect and restore diverse aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and promote poverty reduction, climate resilience, and improved food security.
“An integrated approach is needed to improve ecosystem services and socioeconomic conditions in the Yellow River Basin, including strengthening institutions, enacting policy reforms, and leveraging private sector solutions,” said ADB senior natural resources economist for East Asia Jan Hinrichs.
The project will also invest in developing medium- to high-quality farmland and providing equipment and facilities that support sustainable and modern farming practices, as part of its effort to build climate-resilient farming processes. The project will also put in place waste management systems and enhance ecological conservation of farmland, water, and soil resources.
Moreover, the project aims to stabilise and strengthen agricultural value chains by facilitating improved cooperation between farmers and agribusiness, upgrading infrastructure and facilities such as warehouses and cold storage, and improving agricultural systems and processes for increased production efficiency.
Costing a total of US$355.8mn, the project is expected to be completed in 2028.
