Raising chickens sets Liu Xiangguo of Zhenyuan, Qingyang, Gansu on the road to prosperity
Although Liu Xiangguo only has a junior high school education, he taught himself to become a "self-taught expert" in chicken farming. When his name is mentioned in Shizui Village, Sancha Town, Zhenyuan County, the villagers all give a thumbs-up, saying he is bold and willing to act, diligent in study, and that through unremitting effort he has carved out a road to prosperity through chicken farming.
"While working away from home, I realized that the little money I earned from working could only barely keep me alive, and could not change my family's poverty at all. Now the targeted poverty alleviation policy is so good, and the government and my neighbors all support me, which makes me even more determined to return home and start a business," Liu Xiangguo said with emotion when talking about his decision to return home and start a business.
After investigating and studying many options, Liu Xiangguo set his sights on chicken farming. No sooner said than done: in 2015, Liu Xiangguo raised more than 1 million yuan from various sources and founded the Zhenyuan County Dingle Breeding Professional Cooperative. "At first I lacked experience, so I went to other farmers' homes to learn from them and study; later I read books on my own, learning while raising chickens, thinking things over and summing up as I went, and I also invited technicians to the chicken farm for on-site guidance. Only gradually did I accumulate a little experience." By updating his rearing methods and through Liu Xiangguo's careful feeding and meticulous care, the survival rate of the chicks reached over 95%.
At present, the cooperative covers an area of 2,600 sq m and has 2 breeding buildings and 6 feed rooms, making it a breeding base that integrates breeding and sales. Liu Xiangguo also actively participates in the breeding industry chain of Zhongsheng Company, adopting the "enterprise + farmer" business model to drive the surrounding people to develop the breeding industry. At present, the cooperative markets more than 20,000 broiler chickens, generating an output value of about 800,000 yuan and providing employment for 20 farmers.
As a young person who returned home to start a business, Liu Xiangguo not only became prosperous himself, but also did not forget to "pass on, help and guide." Some impoverished households wanted to raise chickens but could not buy chicks and had no money for feed; he was always willing to help, taking the initiative to supply feed first and let them pay after the chickens were marketed. With his help, more than 30 surrounding households took up scientific chicken farming and embarked on the road to prosperity. At the same time, he used his cooperative to contact buyers and make door-to-door purchases, which not only solved the people's marketing difficulties but also ensured that their interests were not harmed.
From knowing nothing about technology to becoming a skilled chicken farmer, Liu Xiangguo, with tenacity and persistence, has made his road to prosperity through chicken farming ever wider. Speaking of his next plans, Liu Xiangguo said with full confidence: "If conditions are ripe, I still want to expand the scale of breeding, update the equipment, engage in automated farming, and develop the breeding industry together with my fellow villagers, taking the road of common prosperity."