种养结合助力乡村振兴

Core Insights - The integration of crop and livestock farming is proving to be an effective model for rural revitalization, demonstrating significant economic benefits and ecological advantages [1][2] Economic Benefits - Specialized pig farming operations that implement crop-livestock integration have an average production cost that is 1.22 yuan lower per kilogram compared to non-integrated operations. Similarly, integrated beef cattle operations have an average cost that is 2.71 yuan lower per kilogram [1] - During the downturn in beef prices in 2024, integrated farming households were able to sustain operations and later achieve profitability during the price recovery phase, offsetting previous losses [1] Environmental Advantages - The annual direct manure discharge from livestock farming exceeds 1.4 billion tons in China, leading to increased costs for manure management. Crop-livestock integration facilitates the resource utilization of manure, achieving both ecological and economic benefits [1] Social Impact - Approximately 40% of farmers' income historically came from livestock, but the rapid scale-up and specialization in livestock farming have squeezed out smallholders, making it difficult for them to participate in high-capital industries like pig and dairy farming [2] - The trend of returning migrant workers engaging in moderate-scale livestock farming is stabilizing family incomes and promoting local employment, which is crucial for rural revitalization [2] Policy Recommendations - National legislation is needed to establish nutrient management standards and to set stricter entry requirements for livestock farming, ensuring that livestock numbers are within the land's capacity to absorb waste [3] - Different livestock species should have tailored moderate-scale standards based on local conditions, ensuring that farming operations can sustain stable incomes [3] - Support policies should focus on moderate-scale crop-livestock integration standards and nutrient management thresholds, shifting from simple scale-based criteria to more nuanced standards [3]