First Phase of Green Pig Project Completed
[2009-07-01]
Residents of Nanmeng village hailed the completion of a training centre as a success in the Monsanto Green Village charity programme. Courses have been given in pig production, and a biogas system is being installed as part of the second phase.
The agricultural and technology training center in Nanmeng of Hebei province is the first "Green Village" in a joint programme organised by Monsanto, the US agriculture products company, and China Women's Development Foundation, according to official sources.
The programme aims to improve overall living conditions of local people by enhancing farming skills, developing local educational conditions and renovating infrastructure.
The two-year philanthropic programme began last year with an investment of $200,000. Together with Hebei Agricultural University, the first year of the programme trained both young and middle-aged farmers in high-quality food production and ecological pig breeding.
Lectures on breeding skills and growing techniques in specialty agriculture, as well as explanations of laws, regulations and ethical issues, are part of the programme.
Field training was also given to local farmers to enlarge their knowledge on wheat growing, preserving corn seed and field fertilisation.
Also included was building of the farmers training centre with a library, a reading room and two recreation rooms, which will be used by local farmers to exchange ideas and experience, to hold lectures and festivals and to enrich local cultural life.
A second phase of the programme includes construction of a methane pool for ecological breeding of pigs. Work has begun on the pool and nearby pigsties and is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.
"When finished, it will produce 500 cu m every day and provide methane for 300 households," Feng Zhihua, Party secretary of Nanmeng village, told China Business Weekly.
The agricultural and technology training center in Nanmeng of Hebei province is the first "Green Village" in a joint programme organised by Monsanto, the US agriculture products company, and China Women's Development Foundation, according to official sources.
The programme aims to improve overall living conditions of local people by enhancing farming skills, developing local educational conditions and renovating infrastructure.
The two-year philanthropic programme began last year with an investment of $200,000. Together with Hebei Agricultural University, the first year of the programme trained both young and middle-aged farmers in high-quality food production and ecological pig breeding.
Lectures on breeding skills and growing techniques in specialty agriculture, as well as explanations of laws, regulations and ethical issues, are part of the programme.
Field training was also given to local farmers to enlarge their knowledge on wheat growing, preserving corn seed and field fertilisation.
Also included was building of the farmers training centre with a library, a reading room and two recreation rooms, which will be used by local farmers to exchange ideas and experience, to hold lectures and festivals and to enrich local cultural life.
A second phase of the programme includes construction of a methane pool for ecological breeding of pigs. Work has begun on the pool and nearby pigsties and is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year.
"When finished, it will produce 500 cu m every day and provide methane for 300 households," Feng Zhihua, Party secretary of Nanmeng village, told China Business Weekly.
Source: eng.foods1.com
Related Articles:
