Huating County, Pingliang, Gansu: A Shepherd's "Three Treasures" for Getting Rich
From "starting from scratch" 3 years ago to now owning 210 mutton sheep and assets of 370,000 yuan, Jia Xuzhong, a shepherd in Donggou Village, Yanxia Township, Huating County, has created a legend of "getting rich" through the sheep industry.
Jia Xuzhong earned 300,000 yuan raising sheep over 3 years. When fellow villagers asked him for his secret, Jia Xuzhong said proudly: "It's good policies that gave the push, and I got rich through hard work and the market." Jia Xuzhong also said that in raising sheep, he also has "three treasures" for getting rich.
Donggou Village is located in a coal mine subsidence area. In response to the relocation of farmers and the large amount of abandoned farmland, Yanxia Township has consistently treated the sheep industry as a leading industry for adjusting the agricultural industrial structure and promoting sustained increases in farmers' incomes. In 2010, Yanxia Township invested 6.5 million yuan to build 10 high-standard ecological sheep sheds of 3,840 sq m in Donggou Village, planted alfalfa on 12,000 mu of transferred abandoned land, and distributed 500 basic ewes free of charge to farming households willing to raise sheep.
"The sheep sheds, basic ewes and grassland were all provided free by the government, and it also coordinated a 50,000 yuan interest-subsidized loan for me." Jia Xucheng recalled, "That year, I tried raising 50 sheep, and after a year, I made a net profit of more than 30,000 yuan after deducting costs."
Jia Xuzhong said happily, "The policies are good, and 'zero' investment is the first 'treasure'."
Jia Xuzhong said that the village's rural library has many books on breeding, and he goes to read whenever he has time, from which he has learned a lot. At the same time, the township government has also hired veterinarians to reside year-round in the breeding community, so problems can be solved as soon as they arise.
"The sheep sheds are clean and tidy, and epidemic prevention and treatment are convenient and thorough. These 'happy sheep' have no choice but to put on weight." Jia Xuzhong said cheerfully, "High technology and 'zero' risk are the second 'treasure'."
With "zero" investment, "zero" risk and high returns, Jia Xuzhong, who has tasted the benefits, has continuously expanded his breeding scale, and his sheep inventory has grown to 210.
"With so many sheep, aren't you afraid that price fluctuations will make them unsellable?" we asked.
"There's no need to worry at all. We also have a third 'treasure'." Jia Xuzhong said proudly, first, the geographical location is good. Donggou Village has no pollution in its air, soil or water, and the forage is grown by ourselves, so the mutton belongs to 'green products' and is in great demand; second, all sheep farmers have joined cooperatives, reducing the risk of withstanding market price fluctuations. Yanxia Township has also set a guaranteed minimum purchase price for sheep, and the shortfall will be subsidized; third, the whole sheep is a treasure. Besides the tender and delicious mutton, sheep wool is also an important daily-use and industrial material. The knitting wool, blankets, felt and other products made from it sell well on the market.