Fresh approaches to winter pasturing see strong returns
Use of high-tech methods reduce environmental impact, boost incomes
Financial windfall
Wang Dong, 55, a farmer from Majun village in Zhangye, said he starts planting corn around April 15 each year, and begins harvesting around Sept 20.
After harvesting his crops, he rents his corn fields to herdsmen from October to March, a commercial practice he has now done for three years.
"We have few livestock of our own, and the land would otherwise be unused. Renting it out to herders brings us additional income of 150 yuan per mu (0.067 hectares)."
This year, Wang rented all his 100 mu of land to Bai Zhengyuan, a herder from Mati village, Sunan.
In the past, Wang had sold the corn stalks to large-scale livestock farmers in the village for 100 yuan per mu, so renting the land to herders brings him an extra 50 yuan.
The manure left by the animals can be used as fertilizer, which means an additional 50 yuan per mu is saved on purchasing fertilizer, he said.
Bai and his family live close to the village. They use barbed wire to fence off the land and keep the animals penned in.
Wang said having the animals so close "doesn't affect our daily lives or pose any harm to the elderly and children", adding that he and Bai are good friends who talk a lot.
