Utilizing Agricultural Technology to Alleviate Poverty The MOST Experience 陈文娟 Wenjuan Chen Texas A&M University

Personal Background Institute for Pacific Asia, Texas A&M University (since Fall 2008) China Rural Technology Development Center (CRTDT), Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST) ( ) Beijing Peking University Unity Microsystems Technology Co. Ltd. ( )

Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) National plans, policies and regulations related to science and technology development Rural and social development with science and technology National wide science and technology programs and projects National S&T funds National S&T Award S&T talents team-building International science and technology cooperation and exchange Experience in MOST

China Rural Technology Development Center (CRTDC) Affiliate agency of MOST Rural poverty reduction with science and technology Rural science and technology popularization Management of National High-tech R&D Program (863), National Key Technologies R&D Program (973), Spark Project, Agricultural S&T Achievement Transfer Fund International Agricultural Cooperation and Communication Rural development research

Experience in MOST My Role Project manager in charge of poverty reduction and science dissemination projects in rural China. China office liaison of the Joint Secretariat of Ministry of Science and Technology and Texas A&M University. Interpreter Photographer

Utilizing Agricultural Technologies to Alleviate Poverty in Rural China – History and Background Ever since 1986 MOST (at that time State Commission of Science and Technology) started poverty reduction work with science and technology Assigned poverty reduction areas of MOST: Yan’an Da Bie Mountain Jing Gang Mountain Ba Zhong Bi Jie Qian Xi Nan

Assigned Poverty Reduction Areas of MOST

Utilizing Agricultural Technologies to Alleviate Poverty in Rural China – History and Background MOST’s Strategies Poverty Reduction Delegation Poverty Reduction Projects National wide science and technology popularization/promotion network Technical Task Force (TTF) initiative

Technical Task Force Initiative The issue of “San Nong” and the leather ball theory The ever growing gap between urban and rural China Rural extension services could not meet the need The initiative in Nanping City, Fuiian Province (1999) A survey of need based on village level Dispatch of technology personnel according to the need Encouragement of cooperatives between technicians and farmers Retention of original position, salary and prizes Expansion of the initiative in other provinces Started in 2002 with 5 provinces in western China. By the end of 2007, there were 4.5 thousands TTF practitioners severing millions of farmers in 1039 counties of 31 provinces. Without much input from the government, TTF practitioners attract hundreds of millions of dollars capital to rural China, and create billions of dollars each year. In the past years, tens of hundred SMEs have been created by TTF practitioners, about ten thousands cooperatives have been formed. Those enterprises and cooperatives are providing jobs to more than 3 million farmers. About 10 million farmers have accepted trainings.

Technical Task Force Initiative Characteristics Support from government Wide range of TTF practitioners: technicians, researchers, companies, college graduates, farmers… Promotion of new technologies and new species in planting and breeding e.g. in 2005, more than 12,000 new species and 12,000 new/appropriate technologies were introduced Service of information, and marketing Market oriented Cooperatives Farmer’s associations Pillar cornerstone industry and dragon-head companies Financial mechanism: credit system Utilization of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and the establishment of internet platforms Adaptation to local conditions

The UNDP Project Title: An Innovative and Durable Mechanism Exploration on Countryside Poverty Relief Through Science &Technology Application Based on the TTF Initiative Full Project Phase: Budget: US $ 7,400,000 (1/4 from UNDP, 3/4 from Chinese Government) Partners: UNDP China, Ministry of Science and Technology, P.R. China Ministry of Commerce, P.R. China Location: 30 counties in 15 provinces of China

The UNDP Project Aims: Provide policy consultation on poverty reduction, living standard improvement in rural area and consolidating TTF system at different levels. Improve technology service system and its function in rural area. Give TTF practitioners and farmers a comprehensive knowledge by intensifying training for TTF practitioners and local farmers, demonstrating different poverty reduction models in experimental area. Find a compatible organizing mechanism adapted to rural area and countryside market in China by experiences derived from TTF practice.

The UNDP Project Budget: Expand the experimental area Establish a credit assessment system of TTF Establish TTF associations and communication centers

TTF Initiative and the UNDP Project

Norman Borlaug Institute and MOST – Cooperation Potentials Poverty reduction projects in rural China Joint research projects, student/faculty exchange programs with Chinese institutes and Short-term training for Chinese government officials and technicians

Poverty Stricken Areas in China