On August 8, Mingtang Village in Beijie Town, Xinyi, a county-level city in Maoming, Guangdong Province, harvested its first batch of giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) from integrated rice-shrimp fields, marking the official implementation of the region's "dual-water-use, dual-harvest" eco-agricultural model
Xinyi Beijie Town's Rice-Shrimp Co-culture Base welcomes first harvest of giant river prawns. (Photo: Lu Bo)
In May this year, agricultural experts from South China Normal University released 30,000 juvenile prawns into the village's red and black rice paddies. After more than 80 days of natural cultivation, the prawns grew from 4 grams each to 25-40 grams, developing a firm texture and excellent flavor.
Villagers harvest shrimp from rice paddies. (Photo: Lu Bo)
Fresh, lively paddy-raised giant river prawns. (Photo: Lu Bo)
Project leader Wang Lei noted the system's symbiotic benefits: prawns naturally control pests/weeds (cutting pesticides), their excrement nourishes rice, while paddy fields provide optimal prawn habitat.
Wang noted that Xinyi's high-quality water sources and well-established red/black rice industry gave the co-culture system a natural advantage. Test results showed the prawns grew faster than expected with high protein content and superior quality. This model increases farmland economic benefits and offers new approaches for sustainable eco-agriculture.
Scenic view of Xinyi Beijie Town's rice-shrimp co-culture base. (Photo: Li Yangshi)
A tasting event featured dishes like boiled prawns and red/black rice fish maw congee, earning widespread praise from attendees. This innovative system boosts agricultural income while advancing sustainable eco-farming practices.
Reporter: Li Yangshi
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
