Ecological Farming in Nanjiang County Helps Farmers Get Rich
On the hillside in the distance, herds of cattle and sheep grazed, while free-range chickens scattered here and there in search of food; in the nearby farmyards, chicken coops of all sizes were dotted around the houses... On December 15, in Tianya Village, Yangba Town, Nanjiang County, the reporter witnessed such a scene.
Building Roads Lets the Ecological Industry Out of the Mountains
"The village has abundant natural resources and ecological industries. Most villagers raise yellow goats and native pigs, and grow walnuts and Chinese medicinal herbs, but because the roads are not connected, the specialty products cannot be transported out." Recalling the village's situation, Yue Songlin, secretary of the Party branch of Tianya Village, said, "If the road is connected, it will be a tremendous joy for the villagers."
The lack of village road access has brought many inconveniences to the villagers, especially when selling pigs, cattle and sheep. "We have to ask five or six young men to carry them, walking about 4 kilometers to transport them to the village road in Group 1." said Li Xiuju, a villager from Group 4 of Tianya Village. "Before Group 1 had road access, we even had to carry them to the main road in Yangba Town." If every household's pigs, cattle and sheep all had to be transported manually to the village's main road, it would be far too troublesome. For this reason, last month, Tianya Village secured some project funding. "We plan to first pave the road in Group 1, and then find ways to raise funds to build roads connecting the other groups." Yue Songlin said.
"If the roads are not built well, it is a major obstacle to developing industries." said Yue Jun, a villager currently paving the road in Group 1. He had long had the idea of starting a business, but considering the inconvenient transportation, he had never made a move. Now that the village is carrying out infrastructure construction, it has brought hope to his farming dream.
Farming: Ecological Yellow Goats Fulfill the Dream of Prosperity
In the sheep pen in the backyard of a farmhouse at the west end of the village, yellow goats were eating forage, and the pen gave off the mellow scent of fermented grass. "There are 80 sheep here, and more than 20 are kept in the neighbor's pen." said villager Song Shigui with a smile as he added forage. "These sheep are the treasure that made my family rich!"
Song Shigui, 48, is a farmer born and raised in the area. In the past, because his family was poor, he started trading sheep with his father right after graduating from junior high school. Today, Song Shigui has become a well-known "local expert" in sheep raising in the village. Song Shigui's family has 4 members, with a per capita annual income of 30,000 yuan, all from raising sheep. Although the family also has a few mu of land, all the corn and straw grown are used as feed. "A sheep can be sold after being raised for three or four months, and each one can earn 800 to 1,500 yuan." Song Shigui said.
When talking about the "art of raising sheep," Yue Songlin said: "Actually, the people of Tianya Village were forced by life to raise sheep. In the past, the village was extremely poor, every household lived in earthen houses, and relying on 2 mu of land per person, life was truly bitter. To change their living situation, the villagers began raising sheep according to market conditions, from one to dozens. Gradually, everyone learned good sheep-raising techniques and also made connections with a group of regular sheep traders." At this point, Secretary Yue's words were full of pride. "Now, half of the villagers in Tianya Village are raising yellow goats, and their income has multiplied several times over."
Poverty Alleviation Lights Up the Hope of Impoverished Households
Bai Zhonghong, now 45 years old, is an ordinary farmer in Tianya Village, Yangba Town, Nanjiang County. His family has two elderly people in their 70s, three children in school, and after his wife fell ill, the family lost a laborer, leaving the household economy in a state of living beyond its means.
"Back then, every day was spent in constant anxiety. Today I worried about my wife's medical expenses, tomorrow about the children's tuition, and what if the two elderly people got sick." One real problem after another was placed before Bai Zhonghong. All the heavy responsibilities of the family fell on his shoulders alone. In order to escape poverty and become prosperous, he approached the Yangba Town government, and with the help of the Nanjiang County Animal Husbandry Bureau, promptly applied for a 6,000-yuan loan from the "Heifer International" project, purchased 5 breeding sheep at once, and embarked on the path of raising yellow goats to escape poverty.
Nanjiang yellow goats have characteristics such as fast growth and development, strong reproductive capacity, and good meat production performance. In addition, Tianya Village has high mountains and dense forests, making it suitable for developing the breeding industry. Most importantly, raising sheep requires low labor intensity, which suits Bai Zhonghong's actual situation.
Today, Bai Zhonghong has raised more than 40 yellow goats, with more than 20 sold each year. Under the technical guidance of the local animal husbandry station staff, he himself has also become a "local expert" in raising yellow goats in the village. "With the government's help, my life has been reignited with hope, and the gloomy atmosphere at home has gradually disappeared." Bai Zhonghong said cheerfully.