Farmer in Deqing, Zhejiang Invents New Method of Rice Cultivation

Planting rice in paddy fields after raising soft-shelled turtles, keeping it inside insect-proof netting throughout the entire growing period... A farmer in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, has invented a new method of growing rice that requires no fertilizer or pesticide.

Not long ago, a green, pollution-free rice produced in Deqing and called "Mosquito Net Rice" aroused great interest; rice priced at 36 yuan per kilogram sold @#@136@#@ in just over an hour, and many rice shops in Hangzhou even placed advance orders for 2008 @#@125@#@.

Why is it called "Mosquito Net Rice"? It turns out that this rice, from sowing and transplanting to harvesting, completes its entire growing process inside insect-proof netting.

At the planting site in Zhongguan Town, Deqing County, the author saw white screen-cloth covers propped up above the rice fields, like large mosquito nets. Wang Genlian, inventor of the "net" and general manager of Deqing Qingxi Soft-shelled Turtle Industry Co., Ltd., explained that these paddy fields had been used to raise soft-shelled turtles for the previous two years; the rice can absorb the rich organic matter left behind after raising the turtles, so no chemical fertilizer is needed. With the net cover in place, pests and diseases cannot get in, so no pesticide is needed throughout the whole process.

Wang Genlian began raising soft-shelled turtles in rice fields 15 years ago and is a widely known "Soft-shelled Turtle King." During the breeding process, he found that raising soft-shelled turtles year after year leaves a great deal of turtle manure in the paddy fields, which affects the breeding environment. But if rice is planted for one year after two years of raising soft-shelled turtles, it not only improves the breeding environment but also makes use of the organic fertilizer left in the field to grow rice. In 2007, Wang Genlian introduced excellent rice varieties and also came up with the idea of putting "nets" over the rice fields, and unexpectedly achieved even greater success: the pest problem was solved without applying any pesticide, and the rice yield was also very gratifying, exceeding 500 kg per mu.

Qingxi Soft-shelled Turtle Industry Co., Ltd. planted more than 60 mu of "Mosquito Net Rice" this year, producing over 10,000 kg of rice, with an output value of 400,000 yuan. "Putting up 'nets' over each mu of paddy field requires an investment of nearly 2,000 yuan, but both the output value and profit are nearly 10 times higher than ordinary rice," Wang Genlian told the author cheerfully. "Rice cooked from this rice tastes very good, fragrant, soft and palatable, so it is very popular."

Wang Genlian's innovative method has attracted the attention of people in agricultural circles, and experts from inside and outside the province, such as the Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Jiaxing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, have come to the site to inspect it. While giving high praise, the experts also suggested that Wang Genlian apply for a national patent for "Mosquito Net Rice." Just a few days ago, the National Patent Office formally accepted Wang Genlian's application. Wang Genlian also plans to increase the planting area of "Mosquito Net Rice" to 300 mu in 2008 and expand it year by year.