How did irrigation projects change agriculture in Anhui province after 1949?

Prior to 1949, Anhui was considered the most economically backward province in eastern China, largely due to the poor utilization of its water resources.1

Since the 1950s, significant improvements in irrigation and water conservancy measures have transformed the province's agricultural landscape. These developments have enabled more land in the southern regions to support double-cropping of rice. When combined with broader land improvement measures and a shift toward household farming, these irrigation projects have successfully increased agricultural yields and boosted per capita net farm income.1