China News Service, Jinan, May 18 (Sun Hongyuan) observes the status of mealworms, adjusts the temperature and humidity conditions, feeds wheat bran, carrots ... "post-80s" Xie Hongtao is busy at the mealworm breeding and processing base in Jinan, Shandong on the 18th. The 38-year-old has been engaged in the mealworm breeding industry for 15 years, and his company exports about 2 billion pieces of mealworm dried products every year.
The 38-year-old Xie Hongtao has been engaged in the mealworm breeding industry for 15 years, and his company exports about 2 billion pieces of mealworm dried products every year. Photo by Sun Hongyuan
Mealworms, commonly known as breadworms, are completely metamorphic insects, experiencing four metamorphosis of adults, eggs, larvae, and pupae. They mainly feed on wheat bran and vegetables and are rich in high protein. Dry insects can be used to feed birds, fresh insects can be used to feed ornamental fish, and adult and insect feces can be used as fertilizers for crops.
Mealworm, commonly known as breadworm, mainly feeds on wheat bran and vegetables and is rich in high protein. Photo by Sun Hongyuan
In 2005, Xie Hongtao accidentally learned that the mealworm has a certain market and investment value in the flower, bird and fish market, and since then entered the mealworm breeding industry and began to study carefully.
"Cultivation of mealworms is a lot of work. Get up every morning to observe the conditions of mealworms, but also look at the temperature and humidity, and feed the insects." Xie Hongtao said that the carrots fed are high in vitamins and have no agricultural residues. Can guarantee the quality of insects. In the early stage of processing carrots are cut with a knife, everything will be cut a few hundred pounds, and often cut into hands. Later, the crushing machine was purchased, saving labor costs.
At the beginning, due to immature technology and lack of control over temperature, humidity, density, etc., a large number of insects died. Xie Hongtao specifically set aside the breeding insects, and the success rate of adult adults was initially only about 30%. After trial and error, the success rate is now over 80%.
Xie Hongtao is feeding carrots to the mealworm. Photo by Sun Hongyuan
In the third year of breeding, the market for yellow mealworms has not yet opened, and the price of insects is low. Xie Hongtao has always lost money, and he also thought about giving up. "The encouragement of my family, coupled with my love for this industry, made me persevere and continue to the present." From 1,000 boxes, 10,000 boxes, to 15,000 boxes ... Tenebrio molitor from breeding at home to own factory , To the establishment of standardized breeding and processing workshops, Xie Hongtao continues to expand the scale of production.
Up to now, the farm has exported 80 to 100 tons per year, about 2 billion dried mealworm products. The products are not only supplied domestically, but also exported to Europe, America, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and other countries and regions. In addition to the yellow mealworm, Xie Hongtao's factory also cooperates with other manufacturers to process barley worms, crickets, grasshoppers and other fish and birds.
The picture shows the solution of Hongtao turning the mealworm. Photo by Sun Hongyuan
As the factory continued to develop, Xie Hongtao felt a lack of knowledge and gradually felt strenuous about company management. Coinciding with the expansion of enrollment in higher vocational colleges in 2019, he resolutely signed up for the exam. Now, he is also a freshman “freshman”, after work, online classes on time.
He said that much of the knowledge learned is useful for managing companies. Since his daily work is relatively busy, he mainly spends time in the evening writing papers and doing computer and other subjects. "Although busy, I have a fulfilling day."
The picture shows the mealworm product. Photo by Sun Hongyuan
The workers employed by the Xie Hongtao factory are all from the local area, and most of them are poor households. "The next step is to prepare a high-standard breeding base. After the project is completed, it will attract more villagers and let them work in front of their homes."
Zhang Tao, director of the Poverty Alleviation Office of Wenzu Sub-district Office in Zhangqiu District, Jinan City, and the first secretary of Dongtian Guangcun, said that Hongtao Xie was one of the talents introduced in the street, and increased nearly 200,000 yuan (RMB, the same below) ), And help local poor people achieve employment and inject vitality into poverty alleviation.
Zhang Tao said that the street is located in a mountainous area and is facing difficulties in how to develop industries in the struggle against poverty. Through the introduction of talents, the streets provide policy support and supporting services for young people who return to their hometowns to start their businesses, so that they can take root in mountains and rural areas with peace of mind. This year, the street industry poverty alleviation project's income reached 3.2 million yuan. (Finish)