New planting method increases incomes of farmers

Two seeders work in a field in Dingtao district. [Photo by Ma Jin for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Dingtao district of Heze city – situated in East China's Shandong province – is promoting a new cultivation technique involving the compound planting of soybeans and corn, in a move to help increase the incomes of farmers.

The initiative is part of a national key demonstration and promotion project that takes advantage of the growth characteristics of soybeans and corn, soil conditions and intercropping. The goal is to expand the amount of available light-receiving space for cultivation, in order to improve planting efficiency while meeting the needs of both crops.

With the support of the local government, farmers like Sun Jianlin have been able to take advantage of the new technique.

"I learned that the policy of compound planting is better, the bean seeds are also free and there are also subsidies," he said.

Sun planted 85 mu of land (5.67 hectares) this year and he intends to use the new technique on a larger scale next year.

The soybean-corn belt compound planting area in Dingtao district covers about 8,023 mu and it is expected that the technique will increase the annual incomes of farmers by about 300 yuan ($41.79) per mu.

The local agricultural department has been providing technical guidance to growers on sowing methods, pest control and on other key aspects and precautions.

They hope to minimize the risks associated with mass planting and improve local enthusiasm for compound soybean and corn belt cultivation. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)