Xichong, Sichuan Province: Revitalizing Abandoned Land, Increasing Efficiency and Increasing Income

Dongdai Township, located in the southwest of Xichong County and 20 kilometers away from the county seat, is remote and lack of resources. In recent years, the township has embarked on a road of characteristic development by invigorating abandoned land, developing family farms, setting up professional cooperatives and engaging in characteristic farming.

Run a family farm to grow green vegetables

In the early morning of October 8, Wang Deyang and his wife went to the vegetable field to pick fresh tomatoes, eggplant and other vegetables (pictured) before the dew dried. The day before, the merchants in Nanchong had contacted him to buy a truckload of vegetables. At 8: 00 in the morning, the merchants drove their trucks to Wang Deyang's vegetable field on time. Wang Deyang weighed the baskets of vegetables in front of the merchants, and then carried them into the car one by one. At 08:30, according to the pre-agreed purchase price, the merchants handed over the money to Wang Deyang.

Wang Deyang is a native of Bajiaoting Village in Dongdai Township. He has been engaged in vegetable cultivation for 8 years. At first, he just made a small fuss and did not make any money. In 2013, cadres from Dongdai Township went to the village to mobilize villagers to transfer abandoned land, and Wang Deyang transferred more than 10 mu. In 2014, Wang Deyang expanded the planting scale, transferred more than 140 mu of wasteland, and set up a "Beiyuanchun" family farm with the help of township cadres.

"at that time, the abandoned land was overgrown with weeds, which was heartbreaking to see." Wang Deyang said that he and his wife hoed to open up wasteland and grow vegetables. Under the husband and wife's hard work, rows of green vegetables replaced weeds, and their wallets gradually bulged. "this year's net income is expected to reach 300000 yuan." Wang Deyang said that the development of family farms has received strong support from the party committee and government of Dongdai Township. Township cadres actively coordinate with relevant departments to give support in planting technology, agricultural equipment, sales channels and so on. Today, the Beiyuanchun family farm employs more than 10 villagers all the year round, each with an income of more than 10,000 yuan a year.

"Farm manure is used to grow vegetables, so the market is not a problem." Wang Deyang said, "I can only sell no more than three baskets of vegetables per vendor because there are too many vendors who want to buy my vegetables."

Set up a cooperative to raise fragrant pigs

In addition to growing vegetables, the Wang Deyang family also raised five black fragrant pigs, and the vegetables that did not look good were fed to the pigs. "mainly feed vegetables and corn, etc., without any additives." Wang Deyang said that in Dongdai Township, farmers who feed native black fragrant pigs all adhere to the most basic principle-pure grain feeding without any additives.

According to reports, last year, cadres of Dongdai Township went to Bajiaoting Village many times to discuss with the villagers how to develop characteristic planting and breeding industries. Finally, it was decided to raise local black fragrant pigs with tender meat on a pilot basis in the village.

"Earth Black Xiang Pig does not win by weight. It takes a relatively long time to breed, which takes eight months. At first, many villagers are unwilling to raise it." Pang Chengjie, director of the village committee of Bajiaoping Village, said that it was only after seeing that the first batch of black fragrant pigs raised in the village had been sold at a good price that many villagers joined in. "Live pigs are about 30 yuan per kilogram and pork is about 50 yuan per kilogram." it's very popular because the meat is good and not greasy. "

According to Pang Chengjie, 83 households in the village raise native black Xiang pigs. "before the pigs grow up, the village has received more than 40 orders, and the market is not a problem."

In April this year, Bajiaoping Village set up a Dongdai Taibao Earth Black Xiang Pig Professional Cooperative, with five special groups of finance, technology, epidemic prevention, sales and supervision, to provide members with services such as pig acquisition, sales, and technical consultation on breeding.

"in order to ensure the quality of Earth Black Xiang Pig and establish a brand, we check irregularly once a month to see if any members feed additives to the pigs." Pang Chengjie said that once someone was found to have added additives to pig food, his membership would be immediately disqualified. "the subsidy of 380 yuan given to each piglet by the cooperative will also be recovered."

Nowadays, more and more farmers want to join professional cooperatives. Dongdai Township plans to turn several villages around Bajiaoting Village into a local black pig breeding base. "it is also planned to install a monitoring system, which can timely observe the feeding situation of native black Xiang pigs, so that consumers can eat pork at ease." Luo Yunbiao, secretary of the township party committee, said.

Invigorate abandoned land to achieve win-win situation

At present, Dongdai Township has registered 16 family farms, 5 professional cooperatives, 5 large pig farmers, transferred more than 2000 mu of wasteland, and 80% of the abandoned land has been revitalized. Today, the township has formed sericulture, pigs, Rex rabbits, vegetables and other dominant industries.

In order to serve family farms and professional cooperatives and ensure that villagers shake off poverty and become rich, the township has set up an industrial development leading group headed by the secretary of the township party committee. The achievements of developing family farms and solving land abandonment are included in the annual goal assessment of rural cadres, and farmers with "ability and funds" are actively guided to set up family farms, transfer land to develop characteristic farming, and promote land management on an appropriate scale. We will increase agricultural efficiency and increase farmers' income.

Luo Yunbiao told reporters that Dongdai Township will continue to implement the "family farm + professional cooperative" model, do a good job in industrial cultivation, and plan to add five new family farms and plant 500 mu of potatoes. At the same time, vigorously develop Dongdai native egg and local black pig industry, so that every inch of land can be brought into play. In addition, the village will be used as a unit to set up professional cooperatives to guide farmers to buy shares in land and establish a dividend mechanism, which will not only invigorate abandoned land, but also enable mass owners to achieve win-win cooperation.