Sustainable Agriculture in the Semi-Arid Agro-Pastoral Interweaving Belt of Northern China

Abstract

The semi-arid agro-pastoral interweaving belt (SAPIB) is an important ecological zone in northern China and an important food base. However, sustainable agricultural development has been restricted by both natural and socioeconomic factors. It is inherently vulnerable because of its unfavourable climate and geological and hydrogeomorphological conditions. Agricultural production has been impaired by frequent natural disasters, salinization and desertification. Moreover, irrational agricultural policies and practices, poverty and other socioeconomic factors have brought about degradation in the SAPIB. The authors argue that the basis for a sustainable strategy is to transform it by increasing exergy input, changing the cultural outlook and harmonizing interactions between the component subsystems. Finally, a series of proposals based on notions for a sustainable strategy is put forward.