Integrated “rice-crayfish” standardized farm income increases

By Ma Yuhan and Zhou Ziheng

On May 13, workers at the Yichang Xiayou Crayfish Trade Center in CaoBuHu Town began sorting and packing crayfish by size at 5 a.m.

Guo Yongliang, a businessman from Chongqing, highlighted the popularity of Yichang crayfish for their clean gills and tender meat, stating, “We have purchased over 5,000 kilograms.” Zhang Jianming, the trading center manager, noted, "The purchase price of crayfish remains stable, with super-grade large ones now costing 60 yuan per kilogram, higher than last year."

The trading center serves Dangyang, Zhijiang, and Jingzhou. In May, crayfish sales peak, averaging 5,000 to 10,000 kilograms daily, with shipments sometimes reaching 15,000 kilograms. These products are distributed to Sichuan-Chongqing, Western Hubei, and Jiangsu-Zhejiang.

This year, Dangyang has implemented standardized breeding techniques in “rice-crayfish” co-raised farms, enhancing both yield and quality. A recent visit to a demonstration base in Caobuhu Town, one kilometer from Dangyang, showcased 1,000-mu farms monitored by drones that ensure precise feed delivery and real-time feeding data, all set in a scenic landscape.

“We implement regular feeding, standardized operations in strict accordance with the production cycle, and each batch of crayfish must be cultivated for a full 50 days,” said Wang Shi, a staff member.

Peng Qinglong, general manager of Yichang Xiayou Aquaculture Co., Ltd., reported that the company has adopted a standardized management system this year. By optimizing seedling distribution density, adjusting feed protein ratios, and enhancing shelling and calcium supplementation, they have achieved a high out-of-cage rate and produced high-quality crayfish with small pincers, large tails, reddish-brown bodies, clean gills, and abundant meat.

“Especially, the proportion of large crayfish weighing more than 30 grams has reached 70 percent, far exceeding the previous years’ level,” Peng Qinglong said. The crayfish output of the base this year is expected to reach 150,000 to 175,000 kilograms, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.

Daily supplies of crayfish are currently exceeding 1,500 kilograms to the Three Gorges Logistics Park, Yiling Sanxiang Market, and catering businesses. According to Huaxiang Xiadian's manager, one-third of high-quality crayfish comes from Yichang, with just a three-hour delivery time from the field to the table.

Yichang is developing integrated rice and crayfish farming across 56,000 mu (over 3,700 hectares) in areas like Zhijiang, Yidu, and Yiling. This ecological system allows crayfish to enrich the rice, while rice supports crayfish. Crayfish waste becomes organic fertilizer, and paddy pests serve as natural bait, benefiting both the environment and the economy.

Zheng Peng, Deputy Director of the Municipal Aquatic Technology Promotion Station, announced that Yichang's crayfish production is expected to reach 9,000 tons by 2025, with an output value exceeding 550 million yuan (about 7.6 million USD), marking a 6.6 percent year-on-year increase.