Poultry Farming Expert "Chicken Commander" Builds a Chicken-Farming Village

Recently, at the foot of a hillside in Yuhuangou Village, Mimiao Town, Ruzhou City, Henan, this reporter saw the village Party branch secretary Zhao Shutang, a man in his 50s known as the "Chicken Commander," standing in front of his newly bought black sedan and telling villagers about the prospects for developing the chicken-farming industry.

Zhao Shutang said: "People's living standards have generally risen nowadays, and eggs have become an essential food for all three meals a day. Add to that the implementation of the national two-child policy, the rapid development of the egg-processing industry, and the growing volume of egg exports abroad, so chicken farming has great prospects for development."

In 2012, villager Song Yanwei was looking everywhere for a way to get rich, so he went to "Chicken Commander" Zhao Shutang for advice. Zhao Shutang said: "Our village sits in hilly and mountainous terrain, and the land is poor, but the area is broad and the air is fresh, so chicken farming is a sure path to prosperity." Song Yanwei also wanted to raise chickens, but he lacked funds. Zhao Shutang said: "As long as you have determination and confidence, I will help you." Next, Zhao Shutang helped Song Yanwei get a loan of 40,000 yuan, and also lent him 40,000 yuan from the money he had earned raising chickens, and Song Yanwei's chicken-farming scale grew from 3,000 birds to 6,000 birds. Now he can earn a net profit of more than 150,000 yuan every year. He often says: "'Chicken Commander' has helped me so much."

Zhao Shutang has been Party branch secretary for 10 years, and he has also raised chickens for 10 years. At present his flock has expanded to more than 1,200 birds. Three years ago, he had already built a modern chicken farm, with feeding and egg collection fully automated, and he can earn a net profit of more than 500,000 yuan every year, making him a widely known "Chicken Commander." Up to now, to support villagers in raising chickens he has helped them obtain more than 500,000 yuan in loans, and the cash he has lent to chicken farmers himself has reached more than 200,000 yuan.

Through Zhao Shutang's efforts, the village's total number of chickens has now reached more than 120,000. The village has more than 1,500 people, an average of more than 80 chickens per person.