Study On Implement Of Virtual Water Strategy In Zhangye City Of Gansu Province

In this paper, we firstly introduced the concept of virtual water, discussed the theories of virtual water and presented the methodology to assess the virtual water content in crop and livestock products. Secondly, on the basis of summarizing and discussing the present situation, problems about development and utilization of water resources and assessing the sectional water efficiency, we took Zhangye of Gansu province as a case to assess the virtual water of crop and circulating field. The results showed as following:1. Zhangye is a typical agricultural irritation region. The virtual water contents of crops are higher than those of Heinan province which is one of the most important grain production areas of china. So there are no comparative advantages to plant mass intensive crops (or staple diet foods) From the comparative advantage principle that treats the water resources as the main limiting factor.2. From the virtual water (labor) point of view, the establishment of commodity grain base in Zhangye city aggravated the water scarcity and was unfavorable to transfer the labors.3.Through estimating the amount of virtual water that consumed by the urban and rural residents in their daily lives and that traded by virtual water trade, we preliminarily simulated the roles played by virtual water strategy in promoting the economic increase and protecting the ecological balance. The results indicated that the choice of consumption action made a notable impact on the water resources system. Zhangye was a typical net virtual water export area, fortunately the virtual water was mainly composed of livestock products, fruits and vegetables which needed less water to produce than the cereals. If virtual water strategy were implemented appropriately, the economic increase would be promoted but also the ecological recovery of whole Hei-he river basin would be benefit from.4. The implement of virtual water strategy would not affect the overall situation of supply and demand on foodstuff of Gansu province seriously. In the future, the prospect of foods security of Gansu province would not optimistic and it was inevitable that the new food security strategy should be implemented.5. With the shift of water resources management form water supply management to water demand management, more and more attention was paid to the social resources (anotherimportant resource). After case studies of social water scarcity in Zhangye, it could be concluded that the social resources (social adaptive capacity) played an important role in relieving the water scarcity. Meanwhile, the social adaptive capacity had being improved extremely. To a certain extent, Zhangye was provided with strong SAC to implement the virtual water strategy.6. According to the changes of sectional water efficiency, the agriculture structure adjustment and effective irrigated areas, the state of virtual water strategy was assessed. It was believed that the virtual water strategy did not be implemented until Zhangye was established as the first water-saving society.