Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production
Abstract Water resources are fundamental to agricultural production and food security. Mega water infrastructure project play a critical role in addressing regional water allocation imbalances and meeting agricultural water demands. This study focuses on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00072-2 |
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| _version_ | 1849334431715688448 |
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| author | Yuntong Zhao Qianxi Zhang Zhe Cheng |
| author_facet | Yuntong Zhao Qianxi Zhang Zhe Cheng |
| author_sort | Yuntong Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Water resources are fundamental to agricultural production and food security. Mega water infrastructure project play a critical role in addressing regional water allocation imbalances and meeting agricultural water demands. This study focuses on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP) in China. Using the Synthetic Control Method, it analyzes the MR-SNWDP’s impact on agricultural water consumption in Henan, a major grain-producing province. The results reveal that the MR-SNWDP has led to a consistent increase in both total water supply and agricultural water consumption in the region from 2010 to 2020 based on the comparative analysis of counterfactual simulation. The MR-SNWDP has significantly boosted grain production, with positive effects becoming evident from 2015, and culminating in a marked increase in grain output post-2017. This study advances the theoretical framework for evaluating large-scale water infrastructure projects and offers actionable insights to improve global water management and agricultural sustainability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e393ca1bfbe84b0bb1a6e22595bfdaee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9202 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-e393ca1bfbe84b0bb1a6e22595bfdaee2025-08-20T03:45:34ZengNature Portfolionpj Sustainable Agriculture2731-92022025-06-013111110.1038/s44264-025-00072-2Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain productionYuntong Zhao0Qianxi Zhang1Zhe Cheng2School of Public Policy and Management, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversitySchool of Design, NingboTech UniversityBusiness College, Beijing Union UniversityAbstract Water resources are fundamental to agricultural production and food security. Mega water infrastructure project play a critical role in addressing regional water allocation imbalances and meeting agricultural water demands. This study focuses on the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP) in China. Using the Synthetic Control Method, it analyzes the MR-SNWDP’s impact on agricultural water consumption in Henan, a major grain-producing province. The results reveal that the MR-SNWDP has led to a consistent increase in both total water supply and agricultural water consumption in the region from 2010 to 2020 based on the comparative analysis of counterfactual simulation. The MR-SNWDP has significantly boosted grain production, with positive effects becoming evident from 2015, and culminating in a marked increase in grain output post-2017. This study advances the theoretical framework for evaluating large-scale water infrastructure projects and offers actionable insights to improve global water management and agricultural sustainability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00072-2 |
| spellingShingle | Yuntong Zhao Qianxi Zhang Zhe Cheng Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production npj Sustainable Agriculture |
| title | Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production |
| title_full | Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production |
| title_short | Evaluating the impact of the South-to-North water diversion project on regional grain production |
| title_sort | evaluating the impact of the south to north water diversion project on regional grain production |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-025-00072-2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yuntongzhao evaluatingtheimpactofthesouthtonorthwaterdiversionprojectonregionalgrainproduction AT qianxizhang evaluatingtheimpactofthesouthtonorthwaterdiversionprojectonregionalgrainproduction AT zhecheng evaluatingtheimpactofthesouthtonorthwaterdiversionprojectonregionalgrainproduction |