In 2002, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Agriculture set in motion the "modern water-saving agricultural technology system and new products R&D" program, and set 55 topics reflecting the goals of being at the vanguard of modern water-saving agriculture and key technological innovation, deploying 282 research institutes and high-tech enterprises into project-related R&D. The project developed a modern water-saving agricultural technology system that focuses on improving the efficient utilization of crop water, field water, channel water and recycled water, and the benefits from agricultural production; it established key products and equipment for water-saving agriculture characterized by high-efficiency, low-cost, eco- and environment-friendly advantages; and set up a water-saving development pattern suited to the different needs of different areas.
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Currently, Chinese agriculture uses 390 billion cubic meters of water a year, accounting for 70 percent of all the water used in China. Irrigation efficiency is only around 45 percent, so the water-saving potential is enormous. The government water-saving target is that: by 2030, irrigation efficiency will be a minimum of 55 percent, on the basis of no increase in the total amount of water consumed by agricultural use.