Chapter 97

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

In fact, the economic development path for Meng Hu Ling is already quite clear: the main focus is to develop specialty breeding and specialty planting industries, utilizing Meng Hu Ling's unique climate and abundant biological resources.

Zhang Kaishan asked the township leaders to express their own views. Chen Hongfu, Dong Jianshu, and Li Maofa have had 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 masses throughout the township to engage in specialty breeding and specialty planting, vigorously develop the economy, and increase the income of the masses.

What they said made Zhang Kaishan nod repeatedly, while other township leaders who had not been involved in this aspect of the work could not offer any useful insights.

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

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

"Currently, one village in Ye Zhugou is engaged in specialty breeding and specialty planting, and there are no problems with sales channels yet. But if our entire township does this, what will we do about sales once production increases? Have we thought about this problem?"

Everyone fell into deep thought; this was indeed a question worth considering. In fact, many places have encountered this problem. For example, Chen Hongfu's hometown once raised a large number of Angora rabbits but couldn't sell them, suffering a heavy loss.

Su Xinghui continued, "Before we lay out the industries, 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 became restless; 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 instance, if we want to plant citrus on a large scale, we can introduce a manufacturer that produces canned goods or fruit juice drinks..."

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 taking things for granted? Are those factories opened by your family? You say introduce them, and they'll be introduced?"

The tone of Jin Taihe's speech was a bit problematic, which made even Zhang Kaishan pause and look at him.

Jin Taihe noticed Zhang Kaishan's gaze and also felt that his tone was a bit off, so he explained, "I am addressing the matter, not the person. One must always think of the difficulties before doing things."

It would have been better if he hadn't explained. With this explanation, the people in the township government all looked 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 think of the difficulties before doing things. The processing plants I mentioned are also intended to solve the sales problem of our agricultural products once and for all."

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

"However, we certainly don't have the conditions to build processing plants ourselves; capital, technology, and management levels are all problems. 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 aren't opened by my family."

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

"However, to attract enterprise investment, one must meet the enterprises' conditions. What are these conditions? Of course, it's the investment environment. The investment environment includes hardware and software. Sufficient and high-quality raw materials are one of the essential conditions. Once our specialty planting is established, it is clear that we will have already met this."

"In addition, the investment environment also includes convenient transportation, good public security, preferential policies, good services, 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 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 as well.

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

Professor Rao said, "I only know technology; I don't understand much about agricultural industrialization. However, I think Little Su spoke very well and has done very well. Isn't the bamboo weaving factory he set up in Ye Zhugou increasing the added value of agricultural products? How much is bamboo worth when sold? But I heard that a single bamboo weaving painting is worth thousands of yuan. I think this is agricultural industrialization!"

Luo Ping said, "I don't understand much about developing the economy, but Comrade Little Su is not only talking about it, he has been doing it all along. For these ten days or so, he has been running around the mountains with us, conducting detailed investigations and research on the resources of Meng Hu Ling. The old man says, without investigation, there is no right to speak. Comrade Little Su must have the right to speak!"

Huang Chuanyong also nodded in agreement with Luo Ping's words. After getting along with Su Xinghui these days, they all had a deep fondness for Su Xinghui, who was down-to-earth, humble, and willing to work hard.

Finally, Zhang Kaishan said, "Everyone spoke very well today, especially Comrade Little Su's words, which gave me great inspiration!"

"Shangjun County is a major agricultural county, with the agricultural population accounting for more than 80 percent of the total population. It can be said that as long as the farmers' problems are solved, it is equivalent to solving the problems of Shangjun County. But how should these farmers' problems be solved?"

"How to develop agricultural industrialization has been turning in my mind, but I haven't had any very clear ideas. However, this trip to Meng Hu Ling has given me some ideas."

"Although we are government officials, we are not experts in some aspects. We must ask experts for advice. Like this time, the relevant leaders of your Meng Hu Ling Township government did a very good job by inviting experts to investigate. 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."

"Meng Hu Ling has always been considered the area with the worst natural environment in Shangjun County, with infertile land, uneven terrain, and inconvenient transportation. No one is willing to come here to work. But in the eyes of experts, this is a treasure land with unique advantages. The development ideas they proposed have enlightened us!"

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

"I think you must follow the opinions proposed by the experts and proceed according to the established policies. You will certainly be able to find an agricultural industrialization path suitable for yourselves and become the leader of agricultural development in the whole county!"