How China can become self-sufficient ? Back to Old & Secret Knowledge of Chinese Economy
Despite its incredible economic development, China still has to import food. But recently in China re-emerged the idea of “Self-sufficiency Policy”. How to feed 1,4 billions people ? By using the traditional secrets of old Chinese know-how to produce food in a smart circular way. Before green contemporary « Circular economy » philosophy, ancient China learned to feed itself without invading other countries. Here what we can see from Sea and Land production in China from the eye of Google Earth !
SECOND PART. On Sea
From Zhejiang to Guangdong provinces 1000 miles coastlines, we can see using Google Earth millions of houses and fishing nets little areas floating on the sea. All are China’s “Seafood Farm » ! Rather than going wild to catch wild seafood, it is better to keep seafood in the same place. In this way, you can raise fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, shellfish, etc. with less effort, and earn more money.
Chinese farmers are not only making aquaculture, but any open water, reservoirs, rivers, lakes can raise aquatic products.
What is the total consumption of Seafood in China ?
The total global seafood consumption is 144 million tons per year. China is the largest seafood consumer, accounting for 45% of the global total with 65 million tons, followed by the European Union (13 million tons), Japan (7.4 million tons), United States (7.1 million tons) and India (4.8 million tons).
Of the 65 million tons of seafood consumed annually in China, only 15 million tons are fished, and the remaining 50 million tons are from aquaculture farms. 90% of seafood in Japan comes from fishing. Thanks to seafood farming, ordinary Chinese people can buy cheap seafood, and they can afford seafood for three meals a day. What a nice life : a full table of Seafood for less than 110 euros !
YANGTZE RIVER
Let’s see the floodplains along the Yangtze River, Taihu Lake and Qiantang River. The abundant fresh water resources have brought a lot of nutrients in the upper reaches of the river, making this area a land of fish and rice for 100 million people.
Compared with planting rice, farming aquatic products can be sold at a higher price and get rich faster. Closer, you will see there are millions of fish ponds here. In addition to fish ponds, you can also see many trees planted around. Why ?
I. Fish and silkworms
These trees are mulberry trees and are used to raise silkworms. For 2000 years, the Chinese in this area have developed many highly complex and sustainable agricultural ecosystems. Today, this system has developed into multiple recycling of the same land. Here in the Sanchi fish ponds the excreta of the silkworms feed the fish of the ponds !
But to raise more fish in the fish pond, you have to have an aeration pump. It can inject air into the water, so that the fish have enough oxygen to maintain breathing. So there are also solar-powered fish ponds that have begun to replace Sanchi fish ponds. Some areas of Huzhou have already installed solar panels.
II. Another ecological cycle is lotus root and fish farming
In some fish ponds, you can grow vegetables at the same time, the most common of which is lotus root. China’s annual lotus root production reaches 11 million tons, accounting for 90% of the world’s total output, and exports account for 60% of the world’s total. Not only Chinese people love lotus roots, but South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam are also major importers of lotus roots.
The idea is still using organic sludges producing by fish to help growing vegetables.
III. Fish and colza, then honey !
The third ecological cycle links fish and rape (or colza). China has become the number one producer of rapeseed oil in the world, with production accounting for 22% of the global total.
With rapeseed, beekeeping can be achieved on a large scale. Fish sludges feed the soil that feeds the colza flowers that feed the bees. What a vivid chain ! China’s honey production accounts for 30% of the world’s total. In fact, 1/3 of honey consumed in the United States comes directly or indirectly from China. In order to avoid tariffs, Chinese honey exporters first export to India, the Philippines and Malaysia, then relabel them locally to local products, and then export to the United States.
So we can see the high range of possibilities to increase the production of food in China that is on the way to become more self-sufficient but still has to get arable lands abroad.
Sources
Sources:
https://www.quora.com/How-is-China-able-to-provide-enough-f…?
