Introduction: City context

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China, located at E102°54′-31°26′, N30°5′-31°26′. Of the total population of Chengdu city (11.03 million in 2006), 5.3 million of the people live in rural areas. The total land area is 12132km2.
This region is characterised by a sub-tropical humid climate with mild weather and ample rainfall year-round which is favourable for agricultural production. There are four seasons, including a summer monsoon season, which and a winter.

 
Chengdu consist of 9 districts (Jinjiang, Qingyang, Jinniu, Wuhou, Chenghua, Longquanyi, and Wenjiang), 4 county-level cities (Dujiangyan, Pengzhou, Qionglai, and Chongzhou), and 6 counties (Jintang, Shuangliu, Pi, Dayi, Pujiang, and Xinjin). Among these, Wenjiang, Dujiangyan and Pixian are pilot districts (in green) of RUAF China. For more information about Chengdu see: http://www.chengdu.cn/

Most important types of urban agriculture in Chengdu

Urban agriculture in Chengdu is known for its diversity in high-quality products. because of its favourable climate for agriculture. Chengdu is one of the pioneering cities in China in the development of agro- tourism. Agro-tourism is locally known as Nongjiale; where tourists from urban areas in Chengdu go to a farmers’ house and stay over the weekend, eating country food and enjoy the nature. Nongjiale provides opportunities for urban tourists to enjoy nature, but it has also significantly increased local rural households’ annual income, thereby improving the overall quality of Chengdu’s rural environment. Some farmers combine this with selling flowers. Nongjiale accommodated some 15 million tourists every year to date (2005), created more than 290,000 jobs. Meanwhile, urban agriculture in Chengdu is growing and has now become an integral part of the city’s economy.

Nongjiale

Chengdu Municipality supports their development. It has accomplished land reform, constructed various industrial agriculture parks, and assisted farmer cooperatives, thus facilitating a new economic model adapted to the city.

Industrial agriculture parks operate under a “government-launched / market-run� principle: the city government creates a sound infrastructure adter which numerous leading enterprises invest in the park, thereby setting the stage for efficient intensive agricultural production and parallel growth of foreign and local businesses. Examples include the Szechuan Floriculture Park in Pi County, Dujiangyan Kiwi Park, etc.

In the process of urban-rural integration and agricultural industrialisation, the formation of urban-rural cooperatives throughout Chengdu is apparent. Rural government bodies first assist local farmers developing partnerships on collective land and capital and then operate either independently or with outside investors. Examples include the Tongchun Floricultural Cooperative, etc.

Chengdu’s agricultural cooperatives are industry-specific and are composed of local farmers, companies, and organizations who bring together key elements of production, processing, transportation, distribution, capital transaction, information exchange, etc. to provide a series of services throughout the entire production process. Examples include the Dujiangyan Risheng Kiwi Cooperative and the Jianghe Fishery Cooperative, etc.

Multi-stakeholder Policymaking and Action planning on urban agriculture (MPAP) on urban agriculture in Chengdu

Since 2005, several meetings have been organised in Chengdu by RUAF China and the local Chengdu team.
On November 13-18, 2006, the RUAF China Regional Centre and the Sichuan Provincial Party Committee’s Research Office organised the MPAP training workshop and discussion forum on international urban agriculture in Chengdu. Participants discussed the MPAP process and the various aspects such as the exploratory study, multi-stakeholder analysis, PRA, policy design, agriculture technology demonstration, pilot projects selection and action planning. The training established a basis for the unfolding of pilot projects in Chengdu and mobilised commitment of the participants.

Training

Development strategies

Subsequent steps in the MPAP process in Chengdu are:

• Introducing models of participatory and multi stakeholder planning;
• Introduction of new models for Urban Agriculture related development (e.g. cooperatives)
• Helping to find technology assistance

Pilot projects

The following pilot projects are being undertaken:
 
1. Development of Chengdu agro-tourism

Under the local MPAP the local government of Chengdu and the tourism bureau collaborate with the travel agencies, Nongjiale operators, professionals, researchers to mainstream agro-tourism in Chengdu tourism.

2. Supporting Dujiangyan Jianghe Aquaculture

The cooperative exists since the beginning of 2007. The cooperative supplies technology and marketing information and supports urban fish production and its integration into the area.
RUAF China and other stakeholders aim to increase the farmers’ income, import new breeds and improve technologies, which will will have an external effect on environmental protection, ecological conservation and wetland improvement.
Furthermore RUAF China supports the organizational development.

Fish                 Wetland

3. Organic agriculture development.

One interested farmer in Shuangliu established an organic farm. A village in Pixia is interested in the model that he developed and the farmer in Shuangliu would like to investigate the possibility of a network of socially responsible businesses. He already works with farmers in Pixian at the Model Village that was established by CURA (a local NGO which is focus on the village’s wastewater reuse and irrigation).

RUAF China supports the development organic agriculture, and will support other facilitating activities, such as support to training in organic growing and financial support for farmers during the period in which their land is making the transition from conventional to organic agriculture.

4. Development of a village-based cooperative

Tongchun Floricultural Cooperative is located in the core area of the Chengdu plain, 17 km from Pixian and 21 km from the Wenjiang district. There are 779 households (2579 people) in the Tongchun village. It has 2437 mu cultivated land and 1891 mu floricultural area, and is called “full blossom village�.
The village has started the Tongchun Floricultural Cooperative and the Tongcun Agriculture marketing corporation (see UA-Magazine 17).

RUAF China provides this cooperative with market information; and introduces their model to others. It also lobbies with the government to support this kind of cooperative.

Linkages to regional websites, key documents, photos, maps etc.
For more information on the RUAF-Cities Farming for the Future Programme in the region, contact the regional coordinator at RUAF China or see their website.

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