GLOBALink | China hosts World Conference on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

LISHUI, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Conference on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) was held in Qingtian, eastern China's Zhejiang Province, from July 17 to 19.

The theme of the conference is Agricultural Heritage for Rural Prosperity.

Since 2005, the FAO has designated 67 systems in 23 countries and regions as agricultural heritage sites.

The rice-fish culture system of Qingtian was recognized as a globally important agricultural heritage system in 2005, becoming the first GIAHS in China.

Rice-fish culture system is the simultaneous or alternate production of fish in a rice field. It consists of stocking the rice field with fish of selected size and species to obtain a fish crop in addition to the rice crop.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service