Chapter 54

Developing agriculture requires a very large investment, but the effect is slow, and the GDP increased is also small. Even if the grain yield per mu increases by 100 jin, at the current price, it is only 10 or 20 yuan per mu, which is too little.

Even if the hundreds of thousands of mu of farmland in the county increase production by 100 jin per mu on average, how much GDP can be increased? It is only the GDP created by a few factories, but increasing production by 100 jin on average, how easy is it? The investment is huge. County leaders will calculate this account.

Therefore, agriculture is gradually being marginalized. Every county leader wants to create more GDP and make more political achievements so that they can be promoted.

Zhang Kaishan sometimes thinks, GDP is certainly important, but how can GDP be obtained? For a place like Shangjun County without too much industrial foundation, is there a better way to develop the economy?

Unfortunately, Zhang Kaishan's opinions are not valued, and his idea of vigorously developing agriculture has also been ignored.

Now, he finally saw the hope of agricultural development from Menguhuling, the poorest township in the county, and saw the possibility of agricultural industrialization. How could he not be gratified?

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look at Su Xinghui with appreciative eyes. All this was brought by this young man. Su Xinghui has a clear mind and strong execution. It is his enterprising spirit that has blazed a path to wealth for Menguhuling in less than two months!

Everyone saw Zhang Kaishan's eyes and saw his appreciation for this young man. They each had their own thoughts, some happy, some lucky, some confused, some uneasy.

Only Su Xinghui himself was calm and composed.

Zhang Kaishan looked at Chen Hongfu and said, "Comrade Hongfu, then let's go back to the township government."

Fang Youcai quickly said, "County Magistrate Zhang, you must stay in our Wild Boar Gully for lunch!"

Zhang Kaishan smiled, "Village Secretary Fang, let's forget it today. When you are truly rich, I will definitely come here again and have a meal here!"

Returning to the township government, Zhang Kaishan asked the township government canteen to prepare a simple working meal. In order to catch up with the time, Chen Hongfu ordered Huang Sao to cook a pot of noodles. The noodles were topped with poached eggs and shredded meat, and then sprinkled with some chopped green onions, which was also extraordinary in taste.

After finishing his noodles, Zhang Kaishan convened a symposium in the township government conference room. He discussed the future economic development path of Menghuling with the township leaders and several experts from Jiangcheng Agricultural University. Su Xinghui, of course, also attended the meeting. In addition, several staff members from the county government and the correspondent from the regional party newspaper were present as observers.

In fact, the economic development path for Menghuling was already quite clear to everyone: the main focus would be on developing specialized breeding and specialized planting industries, leveraging Menghuling’s unique climate and abundant biological resources.

Zhang Kaishan asked the township leaders to share their own views. Chen Hongfu, Dong Jianshu, and Li Maofa had been in frequent contact with Su Xinghui and Professor Rao and the others during this period, so they were able to articulate a few points. Their general idea was to organize the villagers throughout the township to engage in specialized breeding and planting, vigorously develop the economy, and increase the villagers' income.

Their words made Zhang Kaishan nod repeatedly, while the other township leaders, who had not been involved in this aspect of the work, were unable to offer any useful insights.

Zhang Kaishan looked at Su Xinghui again and said, "Little Su, why don't you share your opinion as well?"

Su Xinghui pondered for a moment before saying, "County Magistrate Zhang, esteemed leaders, Professor Rao, Professor Luo, Professor Huang, I have some immature thoughts that I would like to ask you all to correct."

"Currently, the single village of Yezhugou is engaged in specialized breeding and planting, and there are no problems with sales yet. But if our entire township does this, what will we do about sales once production increases in the future? Have we thought about this problem?"

Everyone fell into deep thought; this was indeed a question worth considering. In fact, many places had encountered this issue. For example, Chen Hongfu’s hometown had once raised a large number of Angora rabbits only to find they couldn't be sold, suffering a great loss.

Su Xinghui continued, "Before we lay out the industry, we should consider this problem in advance. Of course, there is a solution to this problem, and that is to engage in agricultural industrialization!"

"Agricultural industrialization?" The township leaders stirred; this was the first time they had heard this term.

"For example, before we plant medicinal herbs on a large scale, we can consider introducing a pharmaceutical factory to build a production base here. For example, if we want to plant citrus on a large scale, we can introduce a manufacturer that produces canned goods or fruit juice..."

Su Xinghui continued to speak eloquently, "In this way, we can form an industrial chain. The cash crops we grow can be consumed directly locally. In this case, even if sales in the market are sluggish, we won't have to worry about our products not selling, and we can also save on transportation costs."

Jin Taihe couldn't help but retort, "Aren't you being a bit wishful? Are those factories opened by your family? You say introduce them, and they'll just come?"

The tone of Jin Taihe’s voice was problematic, making even Zhang Kaishan pause and look at him.

Jin Taihe noticed Zhang Kaishan’s gaze and felt that his tone was indeed off, so he added an explanation, "I am addressing the matter, not the person. One must always anticipate difficulties before doing things."

It would have been better if he hadn't explained; his explanation caused the people from the township government to look at him with strange expressions. Who didn't know about the conflict between him and Su Xinghui? And who didn't know what kind of person Jin Taihe was?

Su Xinghui smiled calmly and said, "Township Head Jin is right; we really should anticipate difficulties before doing things. The reason I mentioned introducing processing plants is precisely to solve the sales problem for our agricultural products once and for all."

"Of course, we could also transport the agricultural products to other places and sell them directly. But as everyone knows, firstly, the sales channels are uncertain, and secondly, selling agricultural products directly yields the lowest added value. If we want to truly make the farmers wealthy, we must increase the added value. The best way, of course, is to build our own processing plants, which can maximize the added value."

"However, we certainly don't have the conditions to build our own processing plants; capital, technology, and management levels are all issues. Therefore, before we complete the accumulation of capital and technology, the only way is to directly introduce processing plants."

"The problem Township Head Jin is worried about is, of course, a problem. Those enterprises are not opened by my family."

When he said this, a burst of low laughter erupted in the meeting hall, and Jin Taihe’s face turned livid.

"However, to attract enterprise investment, one must meet the enterprises' conditions. What are these conditions? Naturally, it is the investment environment. The investment environment includes hardware and software. Sufficient and high-quality raw materials are one of the necessary conditions. Once our specialized planting is up and running, it is clear that we will have already met that."

"In addition, the investment environment also includes convenient transportation, good public security, preferential policies, good service, and so on. We do not yet possess these conditions, which requires us to work together to create a good investment environment. I think that by then, even if these enterprises aren't opened by my family, they will be willing to come here to set up factories, right?"

Zhang Kaishan was the first to applaud, and immediately, applause broke out. Jin Taihe had no choice but to applaud with a livid face.

After the applause died down, Zhang Kaishan asked the professors to speak.

Professor Rao said, "I only understand technology; I don't really understand things like agricultural industrialization. However, I think what Little Su said is very good, and what he has done is also very good. Isn't the bamboo weaving factory he set up in Yezhugou increasing the added value of agricultural products? How much is bamboo worth if sold as is? But I heard that a single bamboo weaving painting is worth over a thousand yuan. I believe this is agricultural industrialization!"

Luo Ping said, "I don't understand much about economic development either, but Comrade Su Xinghui is not only talking about it, he has been doing it all along. For these past ten days, he has been running around the mountains with us, conducting detailed investigations and research on the resources of Menghuling. The old saying goes, 'without investigation, there is no right to speak.' Comrade Su Xinghui certainly has the right to speak!"

Huang Chuanyong nodded in agreement with Luo Ping’s words. Having spent these days with Su Xinghui, they all had a deep fondness for the down-to-earth, humble, and hardworking Su Xinghui.

Finally, Zhang Kaishan said, "Everyone spoke very well today, especially Comrade Su Xinghui’s words, which have given me great inspiration!"

"Shangjun County is a major agricultural county, with the agricultural population accounting for over eighty percent of the total. It can be said that as long as the farmers' problems are solved, the problems of Shangjun County are solved. But how should these farmers' problems be solved?"

"How to develop agricultural industrialization has been turning in my mind, but I haven't had a very clear train of thought. However, this trip to Menghuling has given me a direction."

"Although we are government officials, in some aspects we are not experts, so we must ask experts for advice. Like this time, the relevant leaders of your Menghuling Township government did a very good job by inviting experts to inspect. This is equivalent to inviting a good doctor to prescribe the right medicine for the illness. Only experts can propose the development ideas most suitable for the local area."

"Menghuling has always been considered the area with the worst natural environment in Shangjun County—the land is not fertile, the terrain is not flat, and transportation is not convenient. No one wants to work here, but in the eyes of experts, this is a precious land with unique advantages. The development ideas they proposed have enlightened us!"

"And some of you comrades in Menghuling Township have surprised me this time. You didn't wait or rely on others; without asking the county government for a single cent of aid, you raised your own funds, found your own sales channels, and set up specialized breeding farms and bamboo weaving factories, increasing farmers' income and improving their lives. This is very commendable!"

"I believe that you must follow the opinions proposed by the experts and continue along the established path. You will certainly be able to carve out an agricultural industrialization path that suits you and become the leader of agricultural development for the whole county!"