Rice Plus Mode to Thrive in Changsha County

　　Some agricultural cooperatives in Changsha county, Hunan province are operating a "Rice Plus" symbiotic planting and raising mode and promoting a brand new way of increasing rural incomes among local farmers, reported csxnews.com.

　　Chen Li, the head of the Lian Feng Farmers' Specialized Cooperative, is experienced in planting rice. Under the guidance of the local agricultural and forestry bureau, his 200 mu (13.33 hectares) rice fields were yielding about 600 kg per mu and annual net profit of 300,000 yuan. However, he wanted the rice fields to be even more profitable.

　　In March, Chen joined a training course for "Rice Plus" ecological planting. He learned that the "Rice Plus" mode could increase profit by around 4,000 yuan for each mu. After the training course, he allocated 60 mu of farmland for a trial of the "Rice Plus Crayfish" mode, which is to plant rice and raise crayfish in the same fields at the same time.

　　"I started preparation for the project at the end of March and put 3 tons of crayfish eggs in the rice field in the middle of April," said Chen. "As crayfish cultivation is highly contingent on environmental conditions, I needed to examine and change the water at regular intervals, and consult the technicians a lot."

　　'Rice Plus' mode to thrive in Changsha county

　　After careful cultivation for a month, the first batch of crayfish from Chen's farm sold out successfully. "According to current productivity, I guess I can achieve a yield of 100-kg of crayfish per mu. Given the current market price for the crustacean, which is 40 yuan per kilogram, the 60 mu of rice fields will increase income by 240,000 yuan," Chen said happily.

　　According to a principal of Changsha county's agricultural and forestry bureau, microbes and pests produced in the growth process of rice will feed the crayfish, while the excrement of crayfish is good bio-fertilizer for rice. Therefore, growing rice and raising crayfish in the same field can achieve complementary advantages and improve the quality and productivity of both products at the same time.

　　"The 'Rice Plus' mode can achieve multiple harvests within the same rice field," said the official. "It is expected to overcome the problem of low economic returns in the agricultural sector and realize a win-win result in social and ecological aspects as well."