People's Daily reporter Wang Ruihua.
Near noon, I came to the seed preservation farm in Huojiaqiao Village, Sanxi Town, Jingde County, and when I saw Chen Benli, he was vaccinating the ducks in the barn.
Since engaging in special poultry breeding, Chen Benli has never left the industry, and now has become more than half of the experts in the livestock and poultry industry. "Years of experience in seed conservation have made him comfortable with special poultry breeding.
Chen Benli, a native of Sanxi Town, Jingde County, has been engaged in aquaculture since graduating from high school and has become an ordinary technician in the village. After three years, he switched to special poultry breeding, "At that time, he raised both ducks and geese, and raised 32 varieties at most. Chen Benli recalled.
In the livestock and poultry industry, when it comes to special poultry breeding, the first thing that comes to everyone's mind is to introduce seeds from abroad, but the introduction is not necessarily the best species, nor is it necessarily suitable for local geographical conditions. Germplasm resources such as "Zongyang Matchmaker Duck" and "Jingde Goose Goose" have strong adaptability and excellent commerciality, and only by strengthening selection and breeding can they become "agricultural chips".
Lao Chen single-handedly built a seed preservation farm barn. Photo by People's Daily reporter Wang Ruihua.
Lao Chen, who has many years of breeding experience, is naturally well aware that the establishment of a seed preservation farm is a top priority, and it is also the only way to realize the large-scale breeding and industrialization of matchmaker ducks and geese.
In this way, the focus of Lao Chen's work shifted from breeding to seed preservation. Embarking on the road of matchmaker duck and goose research is an opportunity and a feeling for him.
In Lao Chen's view, the purpose of seed preservation is in the final analysis not to let the loss of high-quality provenance, nor to let the quality decline, but also to play a role in demonstration and promotion, "whether it is 'Zongyang duck' or 'Jingde goose', they all have excellent characteristics and valuable genes, which is a rare resource, and must spare no effort to protect it." ”
Pioneer Family Farm was established and Swan Lake Ecological Agriculture Development Company was registered ......On the road of seed protection, Lao Chen put a lot of effort into it, recognized the direction, and plunged into it, and worked for more than ten years. Fortunately, through the exploration and joint efforts of all parties, important breakthroughs have been made in the conservation of "Zongyang Matchmaker Duck" and "Jingde Goose Goose".
In 2021, Anhui Swan Lake Ecological Agriculture Development Farm was officially included in the Anhui Provincial Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Protection Unit. In the same year, the Pioneer Family Farm of Sanxi Town, Jingde County, was identified as a goose breeding site, specifically protecting endangered geese and geese, and establishing a core group and a basic group for seed conservation.
Every year when this season comes, it is also the time when the task of the seed farm is heavier. Lao Chen told reporters, "What I am busy with at the moment is the preparation work in the early stage of incubation, including vaccination, and the lighting of the barn in advance to ensure that the ducks and geese are warm for the winter." ”
After years of development, Lao Chen is now full of confidence, "We are the seed bank of 'Zongyang Matchmaker' and 'Jingde Goose', which are also included in the national project library. He believes that seed preservation is more of a social responsibility, seed preservation is only the foundation, and making improved varieties stronger is the goal.
The seemingly inconspicuous seed preservation farm has undertaken the important task of protecting the breeds of "Zongyang Medium Duck" and "Jingde Goose Goose". Photo by People's Daily reporter Wang Ruihua.
A few years ago, in order to develop the breeding industry through seed preservation and bring benefits to the surrounding villagers, Lao Chen also established a professional breeding cooperative, and through the industrial model of "company + cooperative + poor households", it drove Shuanghe Village to set up a file and establish a card for poor households to breed ducks. At its peak, the village raised as many as 10,000 "Zongyang Matchmaker Ducks" every year, which became the main industry for the village to get rid of poverty and become rich at that time.
Because of this, Lao Chen's enterprise was also rated as the "Most Beautiful Poverty Alleviation and Dedication Enterprise", and the cooperative was also selected as the "National Farmer Professional Cooperative Demonstration Society".
Along the way, this year's 68-year-old Chen, still adhere to the front line of seed protection, although the "Zongyang Matchmaker Duck" and "Jingde Goose" are still facing various tests, but as a persistent breeder, he always believes that "as long as generation after generation continues to keep good, our germplasm resources will become stronger and stronger." ”