Du'an invests 150 million yuan in cattle and sheep grazing

In an effort to reduce poverty in the coming year, the Du'an Yao autonomous county of Hechi will devote 151.66 million yuan ($23.9 million) to develop its cattle and sheep industry, said local authorities.

The government has recognized the industry's importance in poverty reduction and has distributed 7,745 calves and 11,424 lambs to 10,600 struggling families in 2017, effectively improving living standards for tens of thousands of people.

A 300-million-yuan investment was also made in the construction of a storage and distribution center and packing house, as well as the establishment of breeding demonstration bases in several villages and townships, such as Disu, Gaoling and Xia'ao.

The government also plans to allocate 16,000 calves and 33,000 lambs this year, with a subsidy of 99 million yuan. Ten million yuan will be devoted to disease prevention and technical training with another 9.66 million yuan going toward insurance and 33 million toward the construction of new barns.

Du'an is seeking to improve sustainability and take better advantage of local conditions by converting portions of land from wheat production to pasture production, and plans to add 3,333.3 hectares to the existing area of 1466.7 hectares in order to strengthen the animal breeding industry.