Integrated fishing, planting bolsters efficient agriculture

Yejiazhuangzi village – located in the Hanting district of Weifang city, in East China's Shandong province – has been promoting the integrated development of fish cultivation and crop planting to promote circular ecological agriculture.

To achieve the right combination of planting and breeding, a pattern was adopted that established standard insulated greenhouses, while installing land-based fishing equipment. This utilizes circulating water fish farming technology to convert fish manure into organic fertilizer for planting fruit and vegetables.

In one sunlit greenhouse in the village, rows of neatly arranged strawberries now grow vigorously. Positioned next to the strawberries is the land-based fishing and farming equipment that looks after the fish being reared.

The system is currently being piloted, with four sunlit greenhouses constructed in the first phase to house fruit and vegetables such as cabbages, tomatoes and chili peppers.

By utilizing the technology of circular aquaculture, high-quality freshwater fish, as well as fruit and vegetables can be produced every day throughout the year. That helps villagers to increase their incomes, paving the way for them to be more prosperous.

Moreover, the pattern has also realized the resource utilization of aquaculture wastewater, cut back on pesticide use and reduced agriculture-sourced pollution. (Edited by Chen Chuxuan)

Farmers grow crops in a greenhouse. [Photo by Chen Yanting for chinadaily.com.cn]

Land-based fishing and farming equipment is used extensively. [Photo by Chen Yanting for chinadaily.com.cn]