I suggest we train our own veterinarians. I'm not exactly a professional veterinarian; I only know how to prescribe some medicine and deliver babies for cattle and sheep, but there are many diseases I can't handle.
In addition, there are few veterinarians in the nearby communes, only one in total. If someone has an emergency, we won't be able to get our turn in the waiting list.
Therefore, I suggest that the logistics department train a veterinarian. I think Guodong is very meticulous and would be a good fit. How about letting him go for a two-month training program to try it out?
Fang Xuechang thought for a moment and nodded, "Hmm, that makes sense. Veterinarians need to be trained. I'll talk to Xiao Lu later and see if he's willing to go. If not, we'll find a suitable replacement, but..."
He still looked worried. "Xiao Guan, we have an even bigger hurdle now. With so many new livestock, what will we do about the fodder during the winter and early spring months?"
"Our place will be completely barren by then. If we raise too many livestock, what will we feed them? We don't want them to starve to death; all our efforts will be in vain."
Guan Wenru immediately chimed in, “Minister, I’ve been thinking about this issue for a long time too. Relying solely on natural grasslands is definitely not enough; we need to set up a feed supply plant!”
"?" Fang Xuechang saw the light in her eyes and leaned forward. "The feed mill? Tell me more!"
"Actually, not only our troops are short of feed, but the nearby communes are too. If we can set up a feed mill, it will not only solve our troops' feed problem, but also help the nearby communes."
Fang Xuechang raised an eyebrow. "The question is, where will the feed come from?"
“Minister Fang, we can ‘borrow’ materials.”
"Borrowing materials?" Fang Xuechang was hearing this term for the first time and looked curious.
Guan Wenru smiled and said, "Actually, it's our troops who come forward and talk to the communes in the farming areas. We use our troops' resources, such as helping them repair irrigation ditches, providing some discarded farm tools, or using some unplanned materials to exchange for leftover wheat straw, bean stalks, corn stalks, and other crop straws after the autumn harvest."
These are all good feed for livestock; they'd just sit there as fuel or rot, so giving them to us is a win-win situation.
Fang Xuechang's eyes lit up as well. "That's a good approach, but livestock won't like to eat those things directly, right? And will they even fatten up?"
"So we need to process it! We just need to set up a small factory. I've already thought about the location. We can have the commune set it up on their territory."
We provide some start-up capital and technical guidance, and the tools are simple: a large chaff cutter or a shredder to chop the straw;
We'll get some more large pots or cement tanks and implement some fermentation technology;
Add some soybean cake, bran, or other refined ingredients like surplus oil residue from our logistics department and mix them together.
Silage or mixed feed processed in this way is nutritious, livestock love to eat it, and it's very effective!
The key point is that once the factory was set up, the raw materials were exchanged with the commune members, which could give them some extra income.
The factory itself needs manpower, so we'll prioritize solving the employment problems of military dependents! This will allow them to earn wages near their homes.
"!!!" Fang Xuechang was so excited as he listened that he slammed his hand on the table. "Great! This is a great idea! It kills multiple birds with one stone! It solves our feed problem, helps the commune and its members, and also provides for the families of soldiers!"
Just thinking about it excited Fang Xuechang. He suddenly took out a pen and paper and said, "I'll write a report right now and coordinate with the local authorities!"
But as soon as he picked up the pen, he suddenly stopped, as if he remembered something, and squinted to examine Guan Wenru carefully. "Wait... Guan... you didn't just come up with this idea, did you?"
Tell me the truth, you first agreed to expand the scale of breeding, and now you've come up with such a detailed feed mill plan... It's all connected.
Did you... plan this feed mill thing all along?
Expanding the breeding scale was just to pave the way for setting up this factory? It forced me to consider the feed issue, and you brought it up so casually?
Guan Wenru smiled calmly, without a trace of panic in her eyes, "Minister, you are truly insightful."
Yes, I've been thinking about the feed mill for quite some time now.
However... expanding the scale of breeding is also a real need.
"Look, isn't now the perfect time? Training veterinarians and applying to set up a feed mill are all aimed at making our livestock industry more prosperous and robust. It's a win-win situation."
Fang Xuechang tapped his fingers on the table. "Mutual benefit and win-win...that makes sense, but Wenru, you've gone to so much trouble to plan this, just to solve the problems of feed and military dependents' employment? Don't you have other ideas?"
Of course!
Otherwise, why would she bother to plan all this?
Once the factory is set up, someone will need to take the lead and be in charge.
The commune runs the factory, with guidance from the military; Guan Wenru is determined to get the factory director position!
Having lived a lifetime, she knew better than anyone that power was only real power when it was firmly in one's own hands!
Only then can things truly be done the way you envision them!
However, Guan Wenru would certainly not reveal this ambition.
Her expression was very sincere at that moment. "Minister, this is the main reason. Our troops are rooted here, and we are one family with the people."
If we improve animal husbandry and set up a feed mill, the troops will have meat to eat, their families will have jobs, and the commune members will also benefit, generating income for the collective.
This is a real contribution to the military, to military families, and to the local community.
"No wonder she's Mr. Guan's granddaughter! She has such a broad perspective!" Fang Xuechang now admires the Guan family even more.
"Alright! Comrade Xiao Guan, I understand your concern for the army and everyone. I'll write the report. As for the factory, please take care of it and bring me a detailed plan as soon as possible regarding the initial contact with the commune and the technical preparations!"
Guan Wenru immediately stood up, saluted, and said, "Yes, Minister! I guarantee I will complete the mission!"
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