Era: I was a farmer at the foot of Yaoling Mountain

Chapter 659 Planning: Focusing on Agriculture, Initial Scale Takes Shape

As Juli Agriculture grows larger, it can boost local employment and generate local GDP, making its prospects very attractive.

So the county officials took the opportunity of their visit to try and find out more about the company.

"This matter should not be rushed. Expanding the planting scale is certain, but we cannot be impatient for quick results. The current difficulties lie in the issue of funding and the maturity of the technology."

Fang Wei was not blinded by his success. Although he was not a business genius, he knew that he could not make too big a leap in the early stages of development.

The company is still very weak and has a high debt-to-equity ratio, so it must proceed cautiously and steadily.

"I understand, I understand. We're talking about planning, development issues three to five years from now."

The county leader laughed. Anyway, today's meeting was just a casual chat. He thought that Mr. Fang was a man of action.

Some people act in a flamboyant manner, but the final outcome will definitely not be good.

Only pragmatic people like the other party have the potential to accomplish great things.

The meeting ended quickly, and the group from the county then took their leave.

the next day.

Fang Wei convened a meeting with the company's management to discuss the production plan for the coming year and the plans for the next few years.

This season's seawater rice yield is quite good, with the total amount of sea red rice expected to reach around 30 million jin (15 million kg). Yaoling Sales Company has already placed orders, and payment will be made through a combination of prepayment, secondary payment, and final payment.

The proportions are 15%, 75%, and 10%, respectively.

"I think the company's development should not be too aggressive; steady development is better. Specifically, regarding next year's plan, expanding by another 2 mu of saline-alkali land should be about right. Any more than that would have an adverse impact on our operations."

Yang Feng suggested that the company should expand its saline-alkali land by a smaller portion, and that expanding to 5 mu would be more appropriate.

"2 mu is a bit too little, but adding another 3 mu is no problem."

Wang Muqi agreed with the steady and pragmatic strategy, only differing slightly on the specific figures.

"Everyone should consider the amount of alfalfa to plant. If we are going to plant alfalfa, we can't do crop rotation like we do now. After all, alfalfa is a perennial crop, and it's a pity to pull it up every year."

Qi Cheng has another viewpoint: he believes that alfalfa can be planted on a large scale, so 7 mu of saline-alkali land should be added.

Of these, 2 mu will continue to be used to grow seawater rice, while the remaining 5 mu will be used to grow alfalfa. Alfalfa is a crop that can be harvested for several years after a single sowing, and its planting cost is very low.

After everyone had expressed their opinions, they looked at Fang Wei.

“Planting alfalfa is a good idea, but I want to remind everyone that it is not advisable to plant it on a large scale too early before we develop new salt-tolerant alfalfa varieties.”

Fang Wei partially agreed with Qi Cheng's point of view, but there was a problem: the alfalfa variety that Professor Ma had provided earlier had too low a yield.

The research and development center is currently working hard to develop a new type of salt-tolerant alfalfa. If successful, it will be possible to cultivate it on a large scale.

Animal husbandry is relatively developed in Northwest China, and the consumption of silage and hay is very high, so there is no worry about finding a market for them.

After discussion, it was decided to expand the saline-alkali land by another 3 mu for planting seawater rice. Large-scale alfalfa planting is not urgent; it can be planted from spring to summer anyway, and we'll wait until the new alfalfa variety is developed.

After the meeting, a production plan for Juli Agriculture for next year and a development plan for the next three years were formulated.

the next day.

Yang Feng went to the county, Wu Jiang met with him, and they eventually signed a contract to lease 3.3 mu of saline-alkali land.

The extra 3000 mu of land will be used to expand the breeding center. The breeding center previously had 2000 mu of land, so the total scale will be 5000 mu.

Taking advantage of the fact that winter has not yet arrived, the county has sent people to speed up basic farmland construction and water conservancy projects.

Juli Agriculture has invested funds to start drilling wells, and water-saving irrigation systems have also been put into operation. Everywhere is a scene of bustling activity.

Wang Muqi and Qi Cheng recruited some farm laborers, partly to use them now, and partly to provide training. They couldn't wait until next spring; by then, it would be too late.

Fang Wei took some time to visit the Water-Saving Irrigation Engineering Department. This department has not yet been separated into its own units, but the overall structure has been completed.

The engineering department can not only design water-saving irrigation systems, but also carry out complete construction. Materials, of course, need to be purchased externally, but all are sourced directly from manufacturers, saving on intermediary costs.

noon.

The cafeteria served pilaf and roasted meat. Fang Wei called Pan Lianhua and her sister in advance, and the three of them had lunch at the cafeteria.

Neither Pan Lianhua nor her sister know how to make local delicacies like this, so they can only eat what's readily available.

Recently, there hasn't been much work at the company. Taking advantage of the crisp autumn weather, Fang Wei had the company purchase a few more cars, and then he drove around northern and southern Xinjiang with Pan Lianhua and his sister.

Whenever I visit a place, I always check on the local agricultural production situation, and then I find that the soil salinization in Northwest China is still quite serious.

Managing saline-alkali land is a systematic project that cannot be completed overnight.

"Third Brother, the Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here. Shouldn't we go buy some things? Also, should we give mooncakes to the company's employees?"

Upon arriving in the provincial capital, Pan Lianhua suddenly realized that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching.

Fang Wei doesn't usually worry about these things. She called Yang Feng to ask, and he said that the holiday benefits had already been arranged. "The company has arranged everything. We can just buy some things ourselves."

So, after strolling around the provincial capital and buying some useful things, they drove back to Xiachu County.

Fang Wei plans to return to the south around the beginning of winter, since the entire company will be in a "hibernation period" by then, so it's better to go back and rest.

Pan Lianhua, however, was unwilling, saying, "I don't want to go back too early. Winter is so much fun; we can see the snow."

"There will be plenty of opportunities to see snow in the future. Besides, we can come back anytime after we go back."

Fang Wei smiled and shook his head before heading out to the research and development center.

night.

As soon as he entered, Pan Lianhua greeted him with a smile: "Third Brother, Binbin called and said he wants to come and visit us for a few days. It just so happens that the Mid-Autumn Festival coincides with National Day, so Xuemei and Chenchen can come together."

Binbin wanted to take a break for a while, and Liu Xuemei and Binbin happened to have some time off, so they decided to come and visit.

“That’s great, this place is definitely worth a visit. Find out their departure time, and I’ll pick them up from the airport.”

Fang Wei was also very happy. He wouldn't actively invite his son over, but he was still very welcome if his son wanted to come and play.

"I need to prepare these next couple of days and buy some more things."

Pan Lianhua immediately got busy and went to the county town early the next morning to make up for what was missing.

Time quickly passed, and it was almost the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Fang Wei personally drove to the airport to pick up Binbin and his family. Little Chenchen was curious about everything along the way and kept asking questions.

It was already evening when I got home. My sister and Pan Lianhua had prepared dinner, and we could eat as soon as we walked in.

"Dad, are the conditions here a bit harsh?"

The temperature here is only a few degrees Celsius at night and around ten degrees Celsius during the day, so it's already quite cold.

Along the way, Binbin saw mostly Gobi deserts and salt flats, unlike his hometown where lush greenery stretched out year-round. He couldn't help but think of the term "barren land" and felt that his father shouldn't have come here to start a company.

"It's alright. The scenery here is quite beautiful in the summer. I wasn't used to the dryness when I first arrived, but it's much better now."

Fang Wei smiled and didn't continue the topic.

If he wanted a comfortable life, wouldn't it be better to stay at Yaoling Group? Since he plans to research salt-tolerant crops, he is destined not to stay in the beautiful south, while the Northwest is undoubtedly a good place for development.

As for the local natural conditions, they are not as mysterious as Binbin described; you'll get used to them after a while.

After dinner, the family sat together and chatted for a while before Pan Lianhua arranged for Binbin's family to rest.

the next day.

Fang Wei took his family to the county town and had a local meal for lunch.

Over the next few days, he spent time with his family, exploring the area and gradually growing to like the place.

However, Liu Xuemei and her child had a limited vacation this time, and they returned to Guangzhou after staying for less than a week. In those few short days, Binbin also treated Wang Muqi and others, and promised to send some medicinal herbs that were hard to find locally back home.

Wang Muqi and the others didn't have any major health problems, except for two with stomach ailments and one with arthritis.

However, Binbin also told them to go to the hospital for regular check-ups and to try the traditional Chinese medicine for a period of time to see the effects.

Not long after he returned, Binbin sent some herbs over.

Fang Wei had previously arranged for these people to go to the provincial capital for examinations, as the local medical conditions were relatively poor and the better hospitals were all in the provincial capital.

After returning from the doctor's visit, everyone said that Binbin's diagnosis was very accurate.

After the National Day holiday, the temperature dropped to zero degrees Celsius. Yang Feng immediately turned on the boiler room to provide heating, and the house became warm right away.

"Third brother, it's so nice to have heating, but it's a bit dry."

Pan Lianhua and her sister both felt that having heating in the house was a very happy thing, but since the heating was turned on, they have both been a little irritable, which may be related to not being used to it.

"It's already dry, and it gets even drier with the heating on. Next time I go to the provincial capital, I can buy a humidifier, or maybe keep a fish in the house. I just want to regulate the humidity in the house."

Fang Wei was alright; she basically didn't react much.

With the advancement of basic farmland construction, the newly contracted land has already taken on a new look. It can be directly cultivated next spring, and the missing ancillary facilities can be built next year.

The first snow arrived unexpectedly, and since there wasn't much to do at the company for the time being, Fang Wei decided to take a trip to Shenzhen.

This time, Pan Lianhua didn't object. She hadn't seen her daughter and grandson for so long and actually missed them a little.

end of the month.

Fang Wei and the other two arrived in Shenzhen by plane and returned to their lakeside villa.

(End of this chapter)