Integrated lotus-loach farming in shallow water helps farmers in Huojia County, Henan Province get rich

"This year I can earn big money right at home. These 40 mu of lotus roots and the loach raised alongside them have all been booked and purchased in advance by a large supermarket in Zhengzhou." On September 21, watching the thriving, verdant ecological lotus roots growing in the pond, Zhang Xingbin, a villager from Xiliu Village, Daxinzhuang Township, Huojia County, told reporters with unconcealed delight.

The reporter saw that Zhang Xingbin had dug two lotus ponds in total, both about 1 m deep and covering more than 40 mu. High-quality black-gray plastic geomembrane was laid around the bottom and sides of the ponds, and the lotus flowers blooming in the water were truly delightful.

"After laying the membrane, a layer of soil about 30 cm thick must be spread on top. Laying geomembrane on the pond bottom can both prevent water leakage and isolate viruses, so the lotus roots will not grow deep into the soil, saving time and effort at harvest." Zhang Xingbin told the reporter, "Raising loach can eliminate pests in the lotus pond and improve water quality, making the lotus roots grow whiter, tenderer, thicker, crisper and sweeter, with higher quality. The experts told me this is called vertical farming!"

It is understood that Zhang Xingbin's vertical farming also benefited from the local government. Since the beginning of this year, to accelerate vertical ecological agriculture, Daxinzhuang Township has repeatedly invited municipal and county agricultural experts to give lectures and conduct ecological vertical agriculture training for legal representatives of agricultural cooperatives, family farm owners and others, with more than 300 person-times trained.

Having had a first taste of success, Zhang Xingbin has an even bigger "appetite" for developing ecological lotus roots with loach raised alongside them. His wife took over the conversation and said confidently, "This year, our base for raising loach alongside lotus will exceed 100 mu. By harvest time, gross income is estimated to reach more than 1 million yuan!"