Earthworm Farming Under Fruit Trees in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia: Digging Out a Path to Prosperity

Raising Earthworms Under Fruit Trees

In early spring in March, the weather was still cold even as it began to warm. As the reporter drove along a rugged mountain road, the trees and grass on both sides had not yet sprouted, giving the mountain forest a slight chill. With a gentle breeze, Gaoyingzi Village in Xiqiao Town, Harqin Banner, Chifeng City came into view.

What met the eye was a large forest-fruit base. Because spring had just begun, all that could be seen were patches of bare trees standing there, among which pear trees, apple trees and mountain grapevines could be vaguely made out. Facing this patch of bare forest, village committee director Tian Quan said excitedly: "Spring is here, it is truly full of vitality!"

The author smiled dismissively: what vitality could dry branches have? Tian Quan smiled and said: "Look down under the trees."

Following the direction he pointed, looking down, one could see that under each fruit tree there was a thermal insulation film, and inside the film all that had condensed were tiny water droplets. Through the film, one could see pink earthworms slowly wriggling, some drilling into the ground, some drilling up toward the surface, similar in shape yet different in form.

"The spring sunshine is bright, and inside the insulation strips it is especially warm, so the earthworms are active too." A nearby villager explained that raising earthworms under fruit trees was their new farming project. Tian Quan told the reporter: "Do not underestimate these tiny earthworms; the economic and social benefits they bring by settling here are very considerable."

In fact, in order to alleviate the disadvantage of the slow early returns of the forest-fruit industry, in 2013 Xiqiao Town invested 9.85 million yuan to establish an organic agriculture industry demonstration base combining ecological earthworm farming with the forest-fruit industry. After going out on numerous inspection trips, relevant personnel from Gaoyingzi Village set up an earthworm specialty farming cooperative with 12 households and 18 people. The village traveled all the way to Jiangxi to purchase 3 tons of earthworm seedlings, and developed 50 mu of under-forest economy.

"After the earthworms mature, they will produce 600,000 yuan worth of seedlings and 400,000 yuan worth of commercial earthworms. Adding the income from the fruit trees, the per capita net income is expected to increase by 3,000 yuan. In addition, the earthworm castings formed after the cow dung and duck dung under the trees are decomposed by the earthworms not only contain a large amount of organic matter, but are also rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, making them an important fertilizer for producing organic vegetables." Tian Quan explained.

Since the ecological planting and breeding industry chain centered on the forest-fruit industry and earthworm farming was widely adopted in Gaoyingzi Village, Xiqiao Town, the farmers' income has also been continuously increasing. This year, the village added another 100 mu of earthworm farming, expanding the industry model.

In fact, Gaoyingzi Village in Xiqiao Town using its rich forest resources to develop the under-forest earthworm industry is only a microcosm of Harqin Banner's development of the under-forest economy to achieve prosperity. Last year, Harqin Banner had 20 households raising free-range chickens under the forest, with 50,000 free-range chickens raised, sales revenue of 4 million yuan, and 40 people employed. There was 1 forest frog farm, with 200,000 forest frogs raised annually, sales revenue of 1.2 million yuan, and 20 people employed.

The Xingnong Planting and Breeding Professional Cooperative in Gaoyingzi, Xiqiao Town used an economic forest base to raise 100 mu of earthworms, with an annual output of 160 tons of earthworms, sales revenue of 2.8 million yuan, and 200 people driven to employment. One farming household raising seven-colored pheasants raised 600 birds, with sales revenue of 200,000 yuan and 5 people employed.

Harqin Banner makes full use of its rich forest resources and explores under-forest economy development models. The forestry economy is developing rapidly, and a number of under-forest breeding, forest-fruit, forest-mushroom and other industries are rapidly developing and rising. The forestry economy has become a new growth point for the entire banner's economy and an important way for farmers to become prosperous and increase their income.