North China's Hebei Province has maintained agricultural development by saving effectively conserving it water resources, according to provincial officials.

The officials said the province has been making efforts to saveirrigation water for a decade, and saved more than 1.5 billion cubic meters of water last year. As a result, the province had a good harvest despite a serious drought last year.

Agricultural experts said they have utilized many irrigation methods, including controlling water pressure and laying pipes underground to avoid evaporation and make full use of every drop.

Thus far, the province has carried out a water-saving irrigation program on 2.1 million hectares of land, and will increase this by 200,000 hectares a year.

Hebei Province suffers from a severe water shortage, with only about 200 to 300 cubic meters per person.