Dangyang turns waste straw into profit
2024-07-24 15:07:47
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
Dangyang, one of the major agricultural regions in Yichang, used to struggle with a significant straw waste problem. However, the situation has changed, and straw waste has now become a new source of income.
Dangyang, one of the major agricultural regions in Yichang, used to struggle with a significant straw waste problem. However, the situation has changed, and straw waste has now become a new source of income.
Farmers use agricultural machinery to collect rice straw. Photo by Huang Qiulin.
At the Hewang Animal Husbandry Cooperative in Dangyang, cows are fed with animal feed made from corn straw. This innovative use of straw not only improves the overall utilization rate of straw but also protects the environment and increases farmers' incomes.
"We purchase over 8,000 tons of corn and wheat straw from neighboring farmers annually to produce animal feed. This not only resolves the feed shortage but also boosts their income," said Li Junjun, head of the cooperative.
Furthermore, Dangyang is actively exploring the processing of straw into organic fertilizers and fuel. The region provides subsidies for straw collection, storage, transportation, and utilization.
Over the years, the Dangyang Changfa Agricultural Machinery Cooperative has established a comprehensive system for collecting, storing, and transporting straw. The cooperative has partnered with numerous companies and currently collects and utilizes 10,000 tons of straw each year. It has constructed a new 1,600 square meter straw storage shed and invested in processing equipment. By converting straw into animal feed, the cooperative not only increases the selling price of straw but also enhances the income of its members.
Dangyang has implemented preferential policies to support leading enterprises in straw industrialization. "Currently, we have 20 enterprises equipped with 400 sets of straw harvesting and processing machines," said Huang Qiulin, director of the Rural Energy Office of Dangyang Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau.
By maximizing the use of straw, Dangyang saves more than 20 million yuan (US$2.7 million) annually in harvesting and plowing costs for over 5,000 farmers. The straw utilization and collection factories also provide over 1,000 job opportunities for local residents. Huang Qiulin added that the annual per capita income has increased by more than 5,000 yuan.
