1.
GV Workers leave village at Lung Shin and walking along river (2 shots)
0.21

2.
SV Water being pumped through sluice gate into river (5 shots)
0.48

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SV Woman collects irrigation water from pit and waters plants (4 shots)
1.26

4.
SV Villagers in open air class study Works of Mao (2 shots)
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CU Children and young baby with book on Chairman Mao (3 shots)
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LV Instructor at blackboard
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GV Irrigation river
1.58

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SV Worker opening irrigation trenches (2 shots)
2.13

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GV Huang Shui-chen reservoir with commune leader showing visitors around grounds (3 shots)
2.27

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GV Visitors walk across river bridge
2.32

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LV Water being pumped into canal (2 shots)
2.42

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GV Irrigation trenches alongside rice field showing workers in field selecting seed grains for annual planting (4 shots)
3.04

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SV Workers spray crops against disease (3 shots)
3.17

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GV Workers in field
3.25



Initials BB/1701 CM/AW/BB/1740



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The people of Shinhua Commune, north of Kwangchow in the People's Republic of China, have prospered greatly in recent years thanks to the diligent following of one of Chairman Mao's thoughts, which says "Water Conservation is the Life-line for Agriculture."
By building reservoirs, irrigation canals and ditches, they have preserved for growing crops water that used to be wasted, in an area that was formerly either unwatered or flooded, at different times of the year.

Productivity and income per head have both been greatly improved as a result, and the people feel a real revolution has been achieved.

Visnews reporter Russell Spurr, filmed these scenes while on a current visit to China.

SYNOPSIS: The villagers of the Shinhua Commune, north of Kwangchow in the People's Republic of China, pay special attention to one of Chairman Mao's thoughts, which says that "Water Conservation is the life-line for agriculture." Before the commune was set up in 1968, much of the area's water was wasted. The commune's position in the foothills meant it was alternately unwatered or flooded at different times of the year. Now all that has changed. Ten thousand of the commune's workers have worked on the building of water-use schemes to help the community, damming the water in reservoirs, and building an irrigation canal 60 kilometres long.

The canals now irrigate about one-third of the Commune's total of more than 13,000 acres, most of which is devoted to the cultivation of rice. Production has as a result grown to twice what it was before the setting up of the Commune. The annual rice production figure has now reached 31 million kilos.

Visnews reporter Russell Spurr, who filmed these scenes, says the study of Chairman Mao's works continues among these people of the Shinhua Commune. The slogan "Water Conservancy is the Lifeline for Agriculture" has been put into action throughout the country.

The result of irrigation and flood prevention, the people say, has been better yields, and a higher standard of living for the workers. Greatly improved productivity has resulted in increased income per head. Each worker now receives 150 Yuan (25.39 Sterling) per year, twice what he received before the commune was formed. Income have risen 40 per cent since the cultural revolution.

This is the Huang Shui-chen reservoir, named after the founder of the Tai Ping movement in this area. The commune leader, proudly showing visitors round the grounds, tells them how its waters are used to feed the land. Because of the vastly increased amount of water now available for irrigation, triple cropping is possible as it never was before. Two rice crops are followed by wheat in the winter, as a rule.

Originally, the farms around here were irrigated from small wells which only allowed a man to irrigate between six and twelve acres in a long hard day. Today pumping stations are pouring water through a network of irrigation ditches constructed over the past few years. Members of the Revolutionary Committee running the Commune say there is still much to be done. They are dogged by typhoons, insect pests and shortages. Egg production is being boosted to supply the need for more organic fertiliser. Chemical fertiliser is also badly needed. Nevertheless the Commune leaders are proud of what has been done. They feel that with the help of Chairman Mao, a revolution has really been carried out in their area.