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1. Project Summary and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

The IPM for apple aims at guaranteeing sustainable utilisation of natural resources and minimising disturbance to the ecosystem by adopting a series of technologies, which will harmonising the bio-factors in the orchard ecosystem and make full use of its self-adjusting mechanism. The project will create opportunities for farmers to learn such technologies and encourage their participation into this project.

This project is based on programme areas 11E, and is related to programme areas of 11B, 11F and 9B of China's Agenda 21.

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2. Background

Recent experiences on IPM from some Southeast Asian countries have shown that IPM will not work if it is only "provided" or lectured on by scientists or plant protection specialists to farmers, nor can it be transferred directly from other countries. IPM is site-specific and is only meaningful if it is implemented by farmers themselves. The modern concept of IPM is therefore characterised with the principles of (1)growing a healthy crop, (2) conserving natural enemies, (3) observing field situation for decision making and (4) farmers become IPM experts.

The area selected for this proposed project covers three provinces (Shandong, Henan and Hebei) surrounding the Bohai. Agriculture represents the largest sector of human and economic activity for these provinces, they produce over 20% of the national gross value of agriculture. The natural conditions in this area are suitable for apple growth. During the most recent decade, Its apple production has been increasing by 10% annually, accounting for over 50% of the total national apple production in 1994.

In the recent years, the national and local governments have been seriously concerned with the environmental and resource problems associated with the over-use and/or abuse of agrochemical in agricultural development, particularly apple-centred production systems. These problems include soil degradation, water pollution, rapid increase of pest resistance to pesticides, new pesticide-induced pest problems and the deterioration of the indigenous biological diversity.

There is a substantial knowledge base built in China on the biology, ecology and control methods of major apple pests. Individual components of IPM against such key pests as apple canker, peach fruit moth, etc. have been developed and tried in experimental orchards. Nonetheless, IPM remains limited to small scale experimental orchardís, and remains the concern of researchers and extension specialists, not farmers. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main attributing factors include: the heavily top-down approach for research and technology transfer in which farmers are usually not actively involved in the development process of the IPM programme; a lack of quantitative study and understanding of the ecosystem, its abiotic and biotic components and their interactions as the foundation for many of the IPM programmes; and a general lack of awareness of the value of natural resources among local government officials, extensionists and farmers, so that environmental degradation caused by over use of chemical pesticides is not considered the highest cost of production.

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3. Objectives

3.1 Long-term Objective

The long-term objective of the proposed project is to promote sustainable agricultural development, develop the IPM in which farmers are the major participants in Bohai Bay region.

3.2 Immediate Objectives:

• To develop site-specific IPM systems in line with the natural conditions in the Bohai Bay region;
• To establish apple IPM Farmer Field Schools;
• To teach and embed the IPM technologies in over 90% farmers in this region.

4. Outputs and Activities

4.1 Detailed technical requirements for improving apple production and farmer IPM training

• To study the main diseases, insect pests, their occurrence and damage levels in different environment, then propose specific strategies for carrying out IPM;
• To study population dynamics of the dominant pest and natural enemy species, impact of natural enemies on insect pests and chemical spray on natural enemies; then develop strategies and methods for conserving and maximising the effect of natural enemies;
• To work out a practical training plan on the base of analysis of farmers' pest control practices, their knowledge and attitudes towards IPM, requirements of new technology and knowledge;
• To identify the agrochemical and fertilisers consumption, assess the environment (such as soil , ground water, fauna and flora in and around orchards, etc.) quality and propose a risk evaluation report, monitoring indicators and methods.

Monitoring Indicators: Detailed survey reports; IPM executive plan and development tactics for specific sites; impact evaluation and economic analysis of the production system and the environment.

Implementing Agencies: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hebei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

Time Schedule: January 1997- December 2002

4.2 Development of site-specific IPM technologies for green products

• Development and field tests of existing bio-control technologies and methods for conserving natural enemies and using bio-pesticides; evaluation of the impacts of these bio-control agents.
• Quantitative comparison and integration of the biological, ecological, cultural and chemical components for IPM in apple orchards; Evaluation of the cost-benefits of different pest control plans at specific apple ecosystems, including economical, social and ecological benefits from IPM practice.
• Optimise individual IPM technologies against key pests for specific orchard region;
• To establish IPM technical frameworks based on above studies for large-scale demonstration.

Monitoring Indicators: IPM field demonstration on 5,000 ha in 6 counties within 3 years, 20,000 ha in 20 counties within 5 years, reduction of chemical use by 50%~70%, new IPM system for apple.

Implementing Agency: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 2002

4.3 Curriculum development for apple IPM training of trainers (TOT) and farmer field schools (FFS)

• Production of an apple IPM training manual in Chinese for use by the master trainers and extensionists;
• Establishment of FFS in which apple farmers will learn the role of natural enemies, bio-eco-control technologies, IPM principles and technologies; establishment of a network to feed back problems in the process of carrying out the IPM;
• Organisation of TOT courses for extensionists who will become master trainers for apple farmers.
• Comparative research in both orchards and laboratories by researchers and farmers jointly, especially in response to problems found in the field, and development of site-specific IPM systems based on such focused research for implementation by farmers.

Monitoring Indicators: an IPM manual; 1000 extension specialists and master trainers, training of over 90% of farmer in each county.

Implementing Agencies: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hebei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 2002.

4.4 Perfect IPM technologies and exchange information within and beyond project provinces/sites

• To facilitate information exchange among researchers, extensionists and farmers by developing and making widely available an apple IPM database.
• To analyse the apple market and its tendency, and to provide the participating farmers with marking guidance.
• Publicity of outcomes of the FFS IPM and benefits of the IPM farmers through public media, field visits by officials of the local and national governments, to demonstrate the impact and experience of the IPM programme to the adjacent counties and provinces.
• To develop a new pattern for rural community concerning the farmerís welfare, social and agricultural development, environmental conservation and natural resource management.

Monitoring Indicators: an IPM database established, up to 20,000 farmers in 20 counties trained.

Implementing Agencies: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hebei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences,

Time Schedule: January 1997 - December 2002.

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5. Inputs

5.1 Chinese Inputs

Chinese input will be used for project management, salary and transportation costs for Chinese researchers; research facilities and collection of references, data and information.

5.2 International Inputs

International input will be used for technical assistance, technical consulting services, operation of the TOT and FFS training, communication, and equipment.

5.3 Budget

The total capital needed for this project is US$ 8.51 million. The Chinese participants will raise US$ 3.60 million from domestic sources, while foreign aid will cover the other US$ 4.91 million.

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Table 1. Budget by Item (in million US dollars)

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Table 2 Budget by Output (in million US dollars)

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6. Benefit

This project will stimulate the development of the demonstration areas and the surrounding regions, improve livelihood of rural communities, decrease the frequency of the pest occurrence by about 62.5%~70.9%, reduce the agrochemical by 20%~38.5%. The cost to benefit ratio is about 1:3.3~5.4. The project will also increase farmer's enthusiasm and confidence in agriculture and orchard production, hence increase social and economic stability of the rural community.

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7. Risks

The proposed project will be executed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and in co-operation with involved provincial academies and plant protection stations. Well-trained professionals will be needed. Thus, FAO experts and Chinese IPM researchers will be engaged as technical advisors and technical assistants.

Chinese funding is not enough to support the project, there is a need of international input for the project complement and achieving the expected objectives. The project will be linked with IPM implementation activities of the Global IPM Facility.

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