Insight Focus
- In this series, we’re following farmers around the world.
- We’ll look at what they’re up to on the farm, hear their concerns, and celebrate their triumphs.
- This week, we’d like to introduce you to Xioqing Ke, a cane farmer based in Guangxi, China.
What Have You Been Up To, Xiaoqing?
It’s the spring sowing season so we’re packing the cane leaves and loosening the soil for the new cane seeds.
It’s not easy, especially when there are rocks in the soil which must be removed.
It’s quite a fun task, though, as I get to drive my scooter around the fields and pick up small rocks with my dog alongside me.
What Stage is Your Crop At?
The ratoons are emerging and they’re looking fine at this stage as there’s been plenty of rain.
We’re therefore mixing and applying the fertiliser and pesticides to keep them going.
What Are Your Biggest Concerns at Present?
Fertiliser and oil prices, no doubt. We’re lucky because we have some old stocks of fertiliser to help reduce the pressure somewhat, but I do miss the days when fertiliser was at 2,700 RMB/mt, down 39% from today.
What Are You Doing Differently This Year?
We’ve made some of our most barren land fertile. It’s taken four years to get where we are today as, to improve soil fertility, we’ve had to consolidate the land, loosen the soil, and the cover it with up with more fertile soil.
Nevertheless, agricultural yields on this land jumped from 45 tonnes/hectare in 2016/17 to 105 tonnes/hectare in 2020/21, so it’s been well worth it. This land is also now fit for a mechanised harvest.
Other Insights That May Be of Interest…
Will Record Wheat Prices Incentivise Chinese Expansion?
China’s Sugar Self-Sufficiency Drives Hits Eucalyptus
Explainers That May Be of Interest…
