Fish farming brings in a good catch

Fish farming is paving a way to wealth for the people of Tian'e county, in Hechi, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous.

Tianping is now home to 23 households which are using the village's rich water resources to farm fish.

Head of the cooperative is Lu Qinhan, a Tianping local who invested 70,000 yuan ($10,370) in his fish farm upon returning to his hometown in 2012.

Operating on the Longtan Reservoir, Lu taught himself how to set up a fish farming operation, from how to use the nets and cages to how best to maximize yields.

By the end of his second year, Lu's hard work had paid off, with his fish selling on the market and almost recouping his initial investment.

"Although I encountered some setbacks, I persisted and have seen the benefits that fish farming brings become better and better," Lu said proudly.

In five short years, Lu's fish farm has grown from being an area of seven pens to 30.

Noticing his achievement, in 2016 the government began to encourage other families to take up fish farming and to create a cooperative. So far, 23 families have joined and followed Lu's lead and technical advice.

It's estimated that the total revenue for the fishing industry Tian'e county could exceed 1 million yuan per year.

Lu Qihan throws feed into the reservoir for his fish, Quanping village, Tian'e county, Hechi. [Photo by Wang Mingfu/Hechi Daily]