Xifeng creates smarter fish feed base

Xifeng county's Jiashengyuan Eco-Agriculture Co in Laowo village, Xifeng county, is upgrading its largemouth bass farming operations by optimizing aquaculture techniques and strengthening scientific management, driving the transition from traditional to smart aquaculture.

Dozens of standardized circular fish ponds are arranged in tiers along the hillside. [Photo/xifeng.gov.cn]

Beside one of the ponds, a worker pours a bag of fish feed into an automatic feeder. After setting the parameters, the machine operates on its own, evenly scattering feed across the water's surface. According to Wang Mingqing, a technician at the base, they scientifically adjust feed formulations each day based on the growth stage of the bass and environmental conditions to ensure precise feeding. The newly deployed automatic feeders not only improve the uniformity of feeding, but also allow the amount, timing, and distance of feed distribution to be remotely controlled via mobile phone, achieving intelligent and refined aquaculture.

"Fingerlings are stocked in April, and after eight to 12 months of growth, bass weighing over 0.5 kilograms can begin to be brought to market," Wang said. The base pumps in mountain spring water as well as water from the Wentong River, a tributary of the Wujiang River, ensuring the water is clean. As a result, the farm's eco-friendly bass is of exceptional quality and supplies cities within Guizhou such as Guiyang, Zunyi, and Bijie, while also being sold to Chengdu, Chongqing, and other regions.

In August this year, the base was awarded a "National Famous, Special and Excellent New Agricultural Product" certificate by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. According to the base director Hu Yixu, since the facility was established in 2019, its scale has continued to grow. In the first three quarters of this year alone, production reached 250,000 km, and the annual output value is expected to exceed 15 million yuan ($2.11 million).