Pig farmer forges a new path in ecological farming, leading nearby farmers to prosperity together

Fang Wei at the farm.

Five years ago, Fang Wei, a Party member from Xuzhuang Community, rented 15 mu of land in Liuji Town, built three large pig pens, and started his pig farming business. Having never been involved in pig farming before, he did not want to use traditional pig farming methods and was determined to take a different technical approach to pig farming. After market research and careful consideration, Fang Wei decided to pursue ecological farming, and the farm was named "Hongwei Ecological Farm." From the very beginning, Fang Wei was determined to set himself apart from the traditional farming methods. Everyone knows that the biggest challenge in the farming industry is the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases, and antibiotics, the commonly used "magic weapon" against diseases in traditional farming, were something Fang Wei firmly opposed, so he had to find other ways. To solve this problem, Fang Wei decided on a two-pronged approach: the first step was to mix herbal medicine into the feed. This sounds absurd, but it is genuine technical work; whether it is the ratio of various herbs or the ratio of herbs to feed, experts have studied it to ensure maximum effectiveness. Second, he spent tens of thousands of yuan on ultraviolet disinfection equipment. Don't be surprised, it's not for disinfecting the pigs, nor for disinfecting the pig pens, but for disinfecting outside visitors. This two-pronged approach both improved the pigs' resistance and reduced the invasion of external bacteria. And the pig manure composting technique kills two birds with one stone, reducing the generation of bacteria while eliminating the labor cost of cleaning.

Fang Wei's investment was not without return, and he soon gained a firm foothold. As the farm's business flourished, expanding the scale became Fang Wei's next plan. But fortune is fickle. At the end of 2013, pork prices began to fall, and the pig farming business became increasingly difficult. For a time, many people went from eagerly pursuing the pig farming industry to keeping their distance, and Fang Wei's farm was hit hard as well. Market-ready pigs could not be sold, farmers no longer came to buy piglets, and income kept declining, yet the farm's daily costs would not decrease. Many people around him could not hold on and gave up pig farming. When Fang Wei was at his wit's end, the government extended a helping hand, sending him funds that reduced his losses and helped him get through the most difficult period. In the past two years, pork prices have risen, and people have turned their attention back to the farming industry. Because of its high inventory and the good quality of its pigs, Fang Wei's farm attracted farmers who came in droves to purchase. In 2015, the farm turned its losses into profits in one stroke, and Fang Wei's persistence finally reached the time to bear fruit. After expanding the scale and improving existing techniques and introducing new technologies, in 2015 the Hongwei Farm's annual output reached more than 1,000 head.

After Fang Wei's farm expanded, he gradually gained some fame among nearby farmers, and more and more farmers came to him to buy piglets. Although they were all the same piglets, some farmers' pigs simply did not fatten as well as Fang Wei's, and some were prone to illness. When these farmers came to Fang Wei, he always enthusiastically helped them find and solve problems, treating the farmers' pigs as if they were pigs on his own farm, which made the farmers feel very reassured. So whenever their own pigs got sick, they were willing to come to Fang Wei to take a look. When they had questions about farming, they were willing to come to Fang Wei to ask. When Fang Wei was mentioned, all the farmers gave a thumbs-up and praised him unanimously. Fang Wei started his own business and led nearby farmers to prosperity together, and in 2014 he was rated as an outstanding Communist Party member by the Party general branch of Xuzhuang Community.

Fang Wei always says that what he does is not really a big deal, and that he has persisted until now thanks to both his parents' silent encouragement and the government's support. "Persist, persist, there will always be a good day; persistence is victory." Fang Wei said that in the days to come, he will continue walking this path.