How does integrated farming lead the villagers to prosperity? Second-generation state farm worker Wu Zhangsheng has the answer

With rubber groves layered in green and waves of foliage rippling, the rubber fields of Changshan Farm are full of vitality. The 49-year-old Wu Zhangsheng grew up on the farm, and after graduating from high school he returned to the farm as a worker, joining the rubber planting team, and today he still manages more than 60 mu of rubber plantation. As an outstanding representative of the farm's workers and a true "second-generation state farm worker," in 2011 he was named a "Party member expert in breeding" by the Zhanjiang State Farm Bureau, in 2012 he received the "Zhanjiang City May 1 Labor Medal," in 2014 he received the "Guangdong Province May 1 Labor Medal," and this year he also received the "National May 1 Labor Medal."

Leading the establishment of a breeding base

In 2000, Wu Zhangsheng discovered that Changshan Farm and Changshan Town, located in a hilly area, had enormous market potential for developing the breeding industry. Starting with 10 local meat pigs, after years of hard work and struggle, he has now become a well-known large-scale breeder in the area.

Taking advantage of the favorable conditions of the production team's proximity to a reservoir, Wu Zhangsheng explored an integrated farming model combining "pig raising + fish farming," using pig manure and waste from washing pig pens to feed the fish. This not only solved the sanitation problem of the pig pens, but also saved on feed for fish farming, reduced capital costs, and improved economic returns.

Wu Zhangsheng inspects the fish ponds several times a day to learn about the feed mixing and raising conditions in each pig pen and the nursing of piglets. When a sow gives birth, he often stays up all night. To overcome technical difficulties in production practice, Wu Zhangsheng has participated many times in state farm young worker training and breeding exchange meetings, learned from large-scale breeders in other places, and bought large numbers of books to read.

In recent years, Wu Zhangsheng's pig pens have been expanded to 2,300 sq m, and his fish ponds have reached 350 mu, with an annual output of 300,000-400,000 fish fry. In 2015, he achieved a slaughter volume of more than 3,500 meat pigs, with a net income of more than 1 million yuan, and a net income from fish farming of more than 500,000 yuan.

Wu Zhangsheng did not forget his neighbors after becoming wealthy. Under his leadership, many farm workers tried raising pigs and fish, forming a breeding base. For families in difficulty, he first provided piglets and fish fry on credit. Wu Zhangsheng taught breeding techniques, management techniques and epidemic prevention techniques without reservation, continuously expanded market sales channels, led his neighbors to prosperity together, and played an exemplary role for Changshan Farm.

Carrying forward the spirit of the new generation of state farm workers

"Planting rubber urgently needs large amounts of high-quality farmyard manure. The production team's breeders and retired workers actively responded to the farm's call to donate manure for rubber planting and donated the manure from their own pig farms and fish ponds." Huang Wenqing, current Party secretary of Changshan Farm, told reporters that by collecting manure from pig farms and extracting sludge from fish ponds as farmyard manure, they strongly supported the farm's rubber planting and provided a guarantee for the rapid growth of young rubber trees.

The state farm spirit of hard struggle and bold exploration has been embodied in the people of Changshan Farm. While planting rubber, they also developed the breeding industry, raised start-up funds through multiple channels, led workers to prosperity, formed a pattern of diversified development with rubber, breeding and other industries, promoted industrial transformation and upgrading, and significantly improved the living conditions of farm workers in terms of housing, roads and drinking water.

Since resuming its organizational system in 2008, Changshan Farm has actively responded to the call of the Ministry of Agriculture and vigorously developed natural rubber. Changshan Farm was founded in 1958 and is located in the northwest of Lianjiang City, bordering Bobai County, Guangxi, with more than 24,000 mu of arable land. At present, 15,000 mu of rubber planting has been completed, of which the first batch of more than 2,500 mu will soon be ready for tapping.

The farm plays the role of an engine for regional economic and cultural development and undertakes the historical mission assigned by the state. Li Xiwei, current director of Changshan Farm, said: "The promotion rate of the farm school continues to rise, and more students are admitted to key middle schools every year. The medical level of the farm hospital is also getting higher and higher, providing better medical services for workers and the public. We have reason to believe that the development prospects of Changshan Farm will be even better!"