Li Jianguo thought for a moment and looked at Sun Zongyuan:
"How can you grow lotus roots in such a barren mountain? Why have I never heard of it?"
"My idea is to build a lotus pond, put soil in it, add fertilizer, and then we can plant lotus roots around May Day next year!"
"There are tens of thousands of acres of lotus ponds. Where do you get the lotus seeds? Where did you learn the lotus planting techniques?"
Li Jianguo continued to ask.
Secretary Li's words were indeed true. In those days, there was no technology to grow lotus roots on wasteland, let alone imports of Yugoslav lotus root varieties.
Sun Zongyuan hadn't imagined that technology would surpass the current era, but he had to fill the hole he had dug himself, even if it meant crying.
"I heard them casually mentioning pig farming last year when I was at the Agricultural College discussing it. I asked a few questions and even found a book to learn a little bit. At the time, I thought, wouldn't it be possible to develop lotus roots in this barren land where neither trees nor grass grow?"
"I also thought that if we don't have enough lotus seeds, we could also grow rice. We usually grow corn, sweet potatoes, and millet here, and rarely eat rice. It would be nice to let people grow some rice to change their taste and improve their lives. The difficulty is that building lotus ponds or rice fields requires a lot of money."
"How much money does it take to build an acre of lotus pond?" Zhao Yuncheng asked.
"One acre of lotus roots is usually divided into two ponds. The bottom is paved with cement ten centimeters deep. A fifty-centimeter-high circle requires one ton of cement and five hundred hollow bricks. The pond also needs to be filled with at least forty centimeters of soil. When planting, one acre of land also requires one ton of soil and fertilizer and 20 kilograms of compound fertilizer. The total cost is about 450 yuan per acre. A detailed budget can be made for the specific construction."
"That's so much, most people really can't bear it." Zhao Yuncheng said, scratching his hair.
"For desertification control, higher authorities should provide support funds. Our township should provide a little more support, which will significantly reduce the investment of each household. If we introduce preferential policies, such as waiving contract fees and other expenses for ten years, it can mobilize the enthusiasm of some residents."
Secretary Li Jianguo picked up the phone and called the Anyang County Soil and Water Conservation Center. After a while, Li Jianguo put down the phone and called the Agricultural Bureau. A few minutes later, Secretary Li put down the phone and said:
"The higher authorities do have support policies for desertification control. The barren land in our village meets the highest level of support required by the higher authorities, which is 150 yuan per mu. The Agricultural Bureau also supports the construction of vegetable bases such as lotus roots with an 80 yuan subsidy, and converting dry land into paddy fields with a 50 yuan subsidy. Lotus ponds receive a 230 yuan subsidy, and rice fields receive a 200 yuan subsidy. I think we can get an additional 50 yuan per mu. If we can build 5,000 mu this winter, it will be great. Next year, when fiscal revenue increases, we can build 10,000 or 20,000 mu. It hurts my heart to see that land sitting idle!"
Li Jianguo tapped his notebook with his fingers and then rubbed his face.
"I think it's okay. We've introduced good policies, and support from above won't arrive this year. We can coordinate with banks to provide loans to households. With 500 yuan a family can build an acre of lotus pond or rice field. Ten years without paying any taxes or fees is free income, and the people will be motivated. If the fiscal funds are insufficient, it wouldn't be too much to repay them by the end of next year when our fiscal revenue increases."
"I think I should go find County Magistrate Sui and ask him to contribute some money. If there's any success, everyone will share in it!"
Hahaha!
Several people had smiling faces as if Li Yunlong had succeeded in his plan!
Sun Zongyu returned to the office and, based on the opinions expressed by the three people at the meeting, drafted an "Implementation Opinions of Honghua Township on Desertification Control, Construction of High-standard Farmland, and Planting of Lotus Roots and Rice." With a plan in mind, he wrote with great enthusiasm. After writing it with great vigor, he reviewed it himself, corrected a few typos and punctuation marks, and handed it to the secretary of the Party and Government Office, asking him to organize it and submit it to the secretary and township head for review.
Based on the calculation that one acre of land produces 1,000 jin of rice, and one jin of rice costs 0.2 yuan, the gross income can be 200 yuan. Another 600 jin of winter wheat is harvested, and one jin costs 0.21 yuan, which is 120 yuan. The total gross income per acre is 320 yuan. Excluding seeds and fertilizers, 200 yuan can be earned. If the per capita land in the township increases by half an acre, the net income will be 100 yuan.
If the above policies had been more supportive, the initial investment in building lotus ponds and rice fields would have paid for itself in a year. Some people say you didn't calculate wages, and I say you're a fool. There was no such thing as wages back then, and ordinary people didn't count their working hours!
Secretary Li Jianguo and Township Head Zhao Yuncheng went to the county party committee together to report to the secretary and county head on the winter production work. It is said that they stayed in the county town at night waiting for news. On the afternoon of the third day, the two men came back exhausted and with rosy faces.
The civil servants from the Party and Government Office notified Sun Zongyuan to go to Secretary Li Jianguo's office.
Secretary Li Jianguo stood in front of the township map, one hand on his waist, and with the other hand gestured to Zhao Yuncheng and Sun Zongyuan on the map:
"In addition to the 60,000 mu of land in the development zone for industrial development, we still have 24,000 mu of desertified land in the township. My plan is to convert all of it into fertile farmland over three years. In the first year, we'll test 6,000 mu, and next year 8,000 mu. We'll strive to complete the project within two years."
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Zhao Yuncheng asked in confusion.
"Old Zhao, you're confused. As long as our construction is effective, those counties and townships will all strive for funds to start renovations. By then, I'm afraid there will be too many people and too little money, and the subsidies from higher authorities will not be enough."
Li Jianguo looked at them both worriedly!
Sun Zongyu thought that it would definitely not be enough. There were more than 300,000 mu of land in the county and more than 2 million mu in the region. How much subsidy would that require?
"Zongyuan, you reminded us. I went to the county, and they were also worried about not completing the tasks assigned by higher authorities. We took over all 6,000 mu of land in the county. In addition to the support policies from higher authorities, the county finances also provided a subsidy of 40 yuan per mu. Secretary Wang then went to see Secretary Li Chuanyou of the district, and the district gave him another 20 yuan."
"I think we should calculate the subsidy for 6,000 mu as 8,000 mu, which comes out to 230 yuan per mu. What do you think?"
"I think it's feasible. We should act first and gain the upper hand. This winter we will plant 8,000 mu, before planting five kinds of lotus or seven kinds of rice. With a long time span, we can plant more mu. Next winter we will plant another 6,000 mu. Hehe, the year after next we won't have to compete with other places for subsidies. Let them fight for it!" Zhao Yuncheng said happily.
"If our policies are good and the enthusiasm of the people is high, I'm afraid we can complete it in the first half of next year."
"Then let's study the policy carefully. Let's complete this task that benefits the country and the people at lightning speed, and let other places follow suit!"
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