Grain output increases as farming becomes efficient

In mid-November when Shanxi province welcomed its first snow of the season, Lei Zhijun, Party secretary of Yuanzhong village in Yuanqu county, was busy collecting data on the grain output of every household.

The village's autumn harvest concluded earlier this month and farmers have stored millet in their warehouses.

"The statistics show that a good harvest looks set for this year," Lei said.

The village planted more than 200 hectares of millet so far in 2020 and most of the crops are organic, the official said.

"Over the years, we have cooperated with the Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences," Lei said. "The academy has sent experts to give us instructions on the site, ensuring both the quality and quantity of our grains."

In addition to guidance from experts, the use of modern farming machines has helped local farmers increase output and reduce costs.

"It cost 12.5 yuan ($2) to harvest 100 kilograms of millet with manpower," explained Zhao Wuxiang, another village official. "With the machines, the cost is reduced to 4 yuan."

Zhao said this year's total grain output is estimated to reach 750,000 kilos in the village. "This means a combined income of 7 million yuan for the farmers, up more than 200,000 yuan from the previous year."

In Xingshengnao village in Wuxiang county in the east of Shanxi, the autumn harvest season is more than two weeks later than that in Yuanqu county due to its higher altitude and latitude.

Farmers began to calculate their yearly income when the harvested millet was still on the grain-sunning ground.

The village currently has a farmers' cooperative to take charge of the storage and sales of grains.

Wei Yuanxiang, head of the cooperative, said: "The farmers only focus on growing and harvesting grains. They entrust all the rest of the procedures to the cooperative."

A total of 1,687 residents in 614 households are members of the village cooperative.

Yang estimated that the per household income is expected to increase 7,000 yuan this year from last year because of substantial growth in output and a smooth sales channel created by the cooperative.

In Shanxi as a whole, the harvest season concluded in the middle of this month. The Shanxi Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs estimated that the province's grain output this year will grow steadily as the planting area increases and the province stays free of any major natural disasters.