In the picturesque countryside of Lu Feng She Ethnic Township in Shanghang County, Longyan City, Fujian Province, the golden harvest season is in full swing as large-scale rice grower Zhang Xiuer prepares for the impending harvest. This year, she has cultivated over 106 acres of late rice, an increase of 30 acres from last year, fueled by her confidence in the local grain benefit policies that support farmers.
“The county has continuously improved its grain support policies, enhancing subsidies for grain production and increasing assistance for land transfer,” explains Qiu Fengxiu, head of the Agricultural Technology Station in Shanghang County. “This encourages landowners to lease their land to larger grain producers, which in turn expands the scale of grain cultivation.”
In addition to that, the local government is investing in grain drying facilities and offering subsidies to farmers who purchase drying equipment. “This year, we’ve amplified our support for grain cultivation. For farmers who lease more than 30 acres, the county provides a subsidy of 150 yuan per acre, while townships also offer additional subsidies ranging from 50 to 300 yuan per acre. For contiguous plots cultivating over 30 acres of both early and late rice, the county provides a subsidy of 200 yuan per acre,” Qiu shared.
In 2023, Shanghang County distributed over 50 million yuan in rice production subsidies, including 25.82 million yuan from national-level subsidies for arable land fertility, 2.61 million yuan from provincial dual-crop rice subsidies, and over 15 million yuan from county-level supports. They’ve also introduced 16 new drying machines, increasing their drying capacity by 220 tons per day, which is crucial for ensuring grain reserve safety.
“The key to tackling food security lies in technology,” Qiu emphasizes. Despite facing challenges such as limited arable land and mountainous terrain, Shanghang County is leveraging technological innovations to enhance grain yields. One of the successful farmers, Chen Fuyu, has been experimenting with new strains like “Jingliang You 8612,” “Changliang You No. 8,” and “Zhe Jiang You 1578,” coupled with advanced pest management techniques to ensure fruitful harvests.
“We have a project aimed at increasing rice production over a thousand acres by applying organic fertilizers. We’ve seen an average yield increase of 100 to 150 kilograms per acre, and the harvest looks promising,” Chen expressed with excitement about his new farming techniques.
In 2024, Shanghang County plans to establish 52 demonstration plots covering over 5,000 acres to showcase cutting-edge rice cultivation technologies and methods. “By promoting high-yield varieties and top-quality rice strains, we aim to boost average yields and improve rice quality. We’re also implementing comprehensive mechanized production methods and integrated pest management,” Qiu noted.
The county’s strategic focus on enhancing farmers’ income has been bolstered by precise policies aimed at preserving grain fields, promoting growth, and ensuring profitability for farmers. Thanks to these efforts, Shanghang County has been recognized as a “National Model County for Grain Production” for four consecutive years. Official data indicates that the county’s grain production target for 2024 is set at 364,600 acres, with an expected yield of 159,700 tons. Currently, they have surpassed their early rice planting goals, achieving 102.86% of their target.
“We have implemented strong policies this year, increasing our agricultural support by around 2 million yuan compared to previous years. Efforts to deal with abandoned land and land rehabilitation are crucial to maintaining grain planting areas,” said Qiu Jian, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau. “We are also focusing on enhancing yield per acre through innovative farming techniques while broadening our production of drought-resistant crops.”
