China News Service, Lvliang, June 28th, title: Returning "Donkey" in the Ravine: Giving back to this difficult homeland
Author Gao Ruifeng Li Shengzhi
The donkey cried suddenly, breaking the tranquility of the ravine, and a donkey shelter halfway up the mountain was eye-catching.
In the past six years, Zhao Yanping has built standardized donkey-raising sties in this cramped ravine, sluice ditches, land reclamation and road construction.
On the 27th, when I saw Zhao Yanping, he was "competing" with a donkey in the pen.
"The donkey's temper is coming up, it's very tough." Zhao Yanping stroked the donkey's mane with a smile, and played a rogue inexplicably.
In 2015, Zhao Yanping, a young man who left home to live a life, returned to his hometown of Xiya Village, Huilong Town, Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province, plunged into the ravine next to the village, and became a "donkey".
"When I was young, my family was poor, and I went out early to make a living. I worked hard for more than 20 years, operating mine electrical and machinery and homestay business. It was a small accomplishment." Zhao Yanping said, getting older and wanting to go home.
"In 2015, I accidentally participated in an event about donkey breeding, and was attracted by the'domestic donkey stock is declining and the market prospects are promising', so I decided to return to my hometown to raise donkeys."
In Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province, the man returned to his hometown to raise a donkey to give back to his native land.
Photo by Gao Ruifeng
Since then, Zhao Yanping has been "enclosed" in the donkey shelter in this ravine.
He walks the donkey house almost every day to observe whether the donkey is healthy and check the feeding status of the food.
"The whole body of a donkey is a treasure. Donkey meat, donkey skin, and donkey milk have considerable economic value. Donkey meat is a delicious ingredient, and donkey skin is the main raw material of donkey-hide gelatin. Donkey milk, which is rare in the local area, sells for 40 to 50 yuan per catty. "Speaking of raising donkeys, Zhao Yanping opened the chattering box.
Nearly 600 donkeys consume about 1,000 tons of hay throughout the year. Only hay can increase the income of neighboring villages by nearly 600,000 yuan. The annual consumption of corn and sorghum planted by local farmers is about 300 tons. The total purchase price is seven. 800,000 yuan; many villagers worked in donkey houses and found jobs in front of their homes.
Jiaokou County, Shanxi Province, returning home "Donkey" Zhao Yanping built a standardized donkey shelter in the ravine.
Photo by Gao Ruifeng
From stepping out of the mountains to returning to the homeland, Zhao Yanping used his own practical actions to inject development vitality into the small village with high mountains and steep slopes.
At the moment, he is planning to expand the scale of farming, building an organic fertilizer factory to treat donkey manure, and supporting facilities for processing agricultural products.
At the same time, work hard on reproduction technology, market channel development, and diversified product development.
He said that although the market demand is strong, the donkey industry is difficult to reproduce, the breeding cycle is long, and the local consumer market also needs to be cultivated.
"Donkey milk is rich in selenium and is also naturally low-fat and low-cholesterol organic food, but people are more accustomed to drinking milk."
"I'm also a'donkey temper', and I will do it until I get it right. I'm not old at 50 this year, and I can do it for a few years." Zhao Yanping said with a smile, his goal is to create an ecological, environmentally friendly and green cycle in this ravine. Agriculture, breeding, and planting are branded to develop, and do something for this place where you are always "hometown". (Finish)