Farmer escapes poverty by raising camels

Feng Zhanxi (right) rides a horse through his pasture. [Photo/Xinhua]

In Sonid Right Banner of Xilin Gol League, 42-year-old Feng Zhanxi has lifted himself out of poverty following years of hard work.

In 2003 Feng began to raise camels. Today, in addition to his own pasture of over 600 hectares, he also rents a further 1,333 hectares from four of his neighbors. Feng currently has 440 camels, over 50 horses and more than 120 cows in the pasture.

He set up a featured family pasture named after his wife “Daoren” in arid grassland, which is one of the largest family pastures in Sonid Right Banner.

Through the WeChat platform and a physical store, Feng sells 150 to 200 kilograms of camel milk each month. With additional revenue from selling animals, the pasture’s annual income amounts to more than 400,000 yuan ($58,900).

Now he is a relatively wealthy man, Feng hasn’t forgotten the local community. He has hired herdsmen to work on his pasture, and taught 16 people from five different impoverished families to raise camels.

Feng also plans to set up a camel-raising cooperative, helping more herdsmen work their way out of poverty.

After a day’s work, Feng Zhanxi (second from left) drinks milky tea with herdsmen working in his pasture. [Photo/Xinhua]

Feng tends to a horse. [Photo/Xinhua]

Feng (middle) assists herdsmen milking a camel in the pasture. [Photo/Xinhua]