The herding life of a shepherd at the foot of Yunwu Mountain in Fuquan, Guizhou

Xiao Xuanfa, of Qijia'ao Group in Malongjing Village, Niuchang Town, Fuquan City, never imagined that one day he would become a shepherd, and one who earns nearly 40,000 yuan a year from selling goats alone, becoming a specialized goat farmer at the foot of Yunwu Mountain.

Xiao Xuanfa sprays salt water on the pasture to give the goats extra moisture

Qijia'ao Group is located at the foot of Yunwu Mountain in Guwang, Fuquan City, at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, with deep ravines, dense forests, rugged mountain roads, poor access to information and backward transportation. For many years, despite working hard, the villagers could barely fill their stomachs. Like most people of his generation, Xiao Xuanfa farmed at home after graduating from junior high school, but after toiling all year round he could still earn only a little money, unable to escape the poverty that seemed rooted deep in the mountains. Unwilling to accept this, he later went out to work. After many struggles and much frugal living, he not only accumulated some capital but also broadened his horizons. In 2013, Xiao Xuanfa returned to his hometown. After careful investigation, he found that the local climate, soil and water were all very suitable for raising goats, and that there were many barren hills, making it a natural pasture.

After eating and drinking their fill, the goats head home from the foot of Yunwu Mountain

He put his plan into action at once, so Xiao Xuanfa grew flue-cured tobacco while raising goats. From that day on, he drove the goats down to graze at the foot of Yunwu Mountain every morning and drove them home in the afternoon. Through more than 3 years of exploration and effort, the flock has grown from the initial 50 to 310 today. Xiao Xuanfa said that goats raised in the wild grow quickly, have good meat quality and a high kidding rate, and that he can sell more than 100 breeding goats each year, earning more than 30,000 yuan.

Xiao Xuanfa also told this writer that once the village road from Xinhe in Malongjing Village, Niuchang Town, to Yunwu Village, Longchang Town, is upgraded and renovated, he plans to expand further and help more fellow villagers escape poverty and move toward moderate prosperity.