Chapter 185: Desert Treasures in the Haloxylon Ammodendron Forest

"Will there be any room for maneuver?"

The potential of Luo potassium is amazing, but the development cycle is also long.

In the potash development project, there is a precedent of the Qinghai Province potash project in which the state invested 20 billion yuan and operated for 15 years before it was put into production.

Similarly, the potash project in the United States took 20 years to operate before it was officially put into production.

According to the plan of CDIC, the current construction scale of Luo Potassium is 120 million tons, but it will not be put into production until 2009.

Luo Potassium is very tempting, but Jiahe is also facing tight cash flow.

That's why Miao Lanchun asked this question.

Guo Yang said without hesitation, "Leaving them alone is necessary for negotiation. The more shares of Luo Potassium, the better."

Given the expected revenue from Alfalfa No. 1 seeds, it is worth the risk to pay tens of millions more for the Luo Potassium project.

But Guo Yang felt that things were not that simple.

Since the Corps is interested, it must have the support of the autonomous region. Jiahe may not end up well if it rashly participates, so it has to wait.

He also thought that after finishing his work in Minqin, he would go to Luo Potassium.

After dealing with various affairs, Guo Yang went to the Gobi Desert again.

The nursery site has already been constructed, not far from the Taolai River, and several excavators are leveling the site in preparation for building a greenhouse.

The newly cultivated sea buckthorn has been planted in the seedling pots, waiting to germinate.

Guo Yang looked at the river and thought about the new city planning of Jiayuguan. The previously cultivated ramie and sea buckthorn should play a significant role.

……

On the first day of September, Guo Yang embarked on his journey back home.

After a few hours, we were getting closer and closer to the lake area in the north of Minqin, passing through several towns along the way.

There are many wells on both sides of the road. Some of them have been out of use, but some are still extracting groundwater to irrigate water-intensive crops in the farmland.

Seeing this scene, Guo Yang felt complicated.

Scenes from three years ago emerged one after another.

Fertile fields were devoured, houses were buried, people were unable to survive and were forced to leave their homes. Women and children cried bitterly in front of the ecological immigration bus.

In the past, he would think that this was caused by the local government’s uncontrolled demands and the unreasonable planning of the Hongyashan Reservoir, which led to the interruption of downstream flow.

But now his state of mind and insights are different. In the 800s and s, Minqin was a granary that provided million kilograms of grain to the country every year.

"The joy of a good harvest, but the hidden worries of the ecology."

China has always been crossing the river by feeling the stones. Looking at history with today's perspective and known results is disrespectful to the local efforts.

On both sides of the road, the Badain Jaran Desert and the Tengger Desert still guard it on the left and right.

But the situation is better than I imagined.

Guo Yang looked through the car window and vaguely remembered that this was originally an abandoned saline-alkali land, but now it was covered with sparse artificial grass, locking out the wind and sand.

In some sections of the road, you can still see the river. There is no water in the river, but it is moist, and the plants on both sides are denser.

Along the way, we didn't encounter any heavy sand.

Not long after, Guo Yang met his elder brother Guo Shan and Lu Hanbin and others.

Obviously he had been waiting for this.

"Brother, sister-in-law."

"boss."

We chatted and laughed for a while.

Eldest brother Guo Shan still has a hunched back and his skin is tanned, but he is in good spirits and his sister-in-law also has a smile on her face.

But his good mood didn't last long. Guo Shan urged, "Little brother, it's time to think about marriage!"

"Not urgent."

The eldest sister-in-law said, "Xiaoxia already has a boyfriend. If you don't hurry, your niece will get married before you."

When talking about this, Guo Yang felt a headache.

He signaled with his eyes to Lu Hanbin and others who were watching the show on the side, but they looked around and pretended not to understand.

Guo Yang had no choice but to deal with his elder brother and sister-in-law, and then he managed to get away with it by making an excuse that he was busy with work.

"You're so brave!"

"Boss, hiding for a long time is not a solution. It's better to let them talk it out at once."

Looking at Lu Hanbin who was gloating over other's misfortune, Guo Yang felt a little angry. The once naive young man has become much more sophisticated.

Standing next to him was Shahai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry’s deputy general manager Zhuang Zheng, formerly the manager of the Alfalfa Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Comprehensive Department, who was mainly responsible for connecting the government and the company’s administrative affairs.

And Zhang Jing, in addition to recording with cameras, also participated in specific sand control affairs.

Held a small meeting.

Guo Yang was shocked by what Lu Hanbin said.

"We have completed 7.73 mu of artificial Haloxylon ammodendron forests and 4.69 mu of sand control projects."

"This autumn's task is to carry out engineering sand compaction on 1.65 mu of sand in the Laohukou area and 0.418 mu of sand in the Qingtuhu area."

"At this point, the sand control project covering 14.488 mu will be completed. All that remains is to plant Haloxylon ammodendron trees."

“If the group maintains its investment, it can continue to contract the desert.”

How did you do it?
Guo Yang wanted to ask, but the words he said changed, "Thank you for your hard work."

"Don't be so sentimental."

"Do you know how many people have wanted to give me red envelopes and get projects from me in the past three years?" Lu Hanbin said with a smile.

"Oh?"

“Sand Sea now does not deal directly with migrant workers, but has handed it over to local organizations.”

"Relying on the company's financial support, we organize professional engineering teams for sand control and afforestation every spring to carry out centralized control of sandstorm outlets that are seriously infested and in urgent need of control."

"Shahai has hired more than 40 technicians to follow up and ensure the quality of afforestation."

"It's 100 to 200 million yuan every year, and half of it goes into the pockets of the sand control team."

"Now the locals are praising you, Mr. Guo, as a great philanthropist who has made great contributions to your hometown."

Guo Yang felt that Lu Hanbin had really become a different person. Looking at his appearance, Guo Yang was not sure whether he had taken kickbacks or not.

But there is actually no need to worry about these.

The account can be calculated, and the growth of natural energy also allows him to have a rough judgment.

He was also willing to believe Lu Hanbin.

Guo Yang praised: "What a remarkable achievement, I'll go and have a look later."

“There are still a lot of questions.”

"The idle beaches and farmland forest networks along the road were not included in the overall planning. We blocked the outer periphery, but the windbreak and sand fixation forests inside did not keep up."

"To put it bluntly, there is still a lack of money in the local area."

"When I came here, I also saw people using machine-driven wells to pump groundwater for flooding."

"It's much better now, with Jiahe's annual capital injection and local cooperation, but the drip irrigation facilities are too backward, easily clogged, and expensive, so local people are reluctant to use them."

Guo Yang nodded in agreement. The corn seed production base also had the same problem. It seemed that the seed store in Hanover had also analyzed information in this regard before?

Later, you can try to invest in one or two small factories.

"What about the Shiyang River Basin? How is the governance going?"

Lu Hanbin said: "Shahai has contracted the Hongyashan Reservoir."

"In addition to extracting groundwater from the edge of the Tengger Desert, the Shahai also uses water from reservoirs, and has to pay nearly 20 million yuan in water fees to the Water Conservancy Bureau every year."

"So in the past two years, water from the Yellow River has been transferred to the Hongyashan Reservoir through the Jingdian Phase II. Well, the Hongyashan Reservoir has also changed a lot."

"The water from the reservoir flows down through the river, and the vegetation on both sides has also improved, but when it reaches Qingtu Lake, it is only enough to maintain the irrigation needs of the seedlings."

“It’s still a bit difficult to restore Qingtu Lake to wetland status.”

Guo Yang gradually learned about the changes in the sand sea from several people. The biggest problem was still not enough water.

In the management of the Shiyang River Basin, we must launch three sets of combined punches.

The first is the management of the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Shiyang River;
Second, water conservation;

The third is afforestation.

The main part of Shahai now is the third point;

As for the Hongyashan Reservoir located between the upper, middle and lower reaches, due to the influence of the sand sea, it can barely maintain the water diversion from the Yellow River every year.

But it’s clearly not enough!
"I brought two new varieties this time: sea buckthorn and Hanhai kenaf, which have good water conservation capabilities and can be planted in the Qingtu Lake sand area."

Lu Hanbin said doubtfully: "We have planted sea buckthorn in the lake area. Crops that conserve water resources should be planted upstream!"

Guo Yang smiled and said, "Plant them around the lake. These two plants should be able to retain water."

"Can it catch up with Alfalfa 1?"

"You're dreaming!" Guo Yang scolded with a smile, "But it's not much different."

"Okay, okay, it just so happens that Shahai has been stockpiling seedlings in the past two years. Once the management plan for the Shiyang River Basin is approved, we can make some money by selling the seedlings."

“Has the plan not come out yet?”

"According to the provincial planning progress, it will take at least two years to get approval from the State Council."

Guo Yang curled his lips. The planning has been in preparation since 2001, with a total investment of more than 50 billion yuan, but it is still in the process of verification and cost reduction.

Hey.

By the time the plan is drawn up, we will find that the biggest problem downstream has already been solved by Shahai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

I think that scene would be exciting.

Guo Yang asked again: "How many seedlings are there?"

"There are more than 3000 million of them now. We will plant trees again in the spring of next year while we plant trees."

"When autumn comes, we need to hurry up and start raising and transplanting seabuckthorn and ramie." Lu Hanbin said, "As soon as the seeds arrive, we can start raising the seedlings in the greenhouse..."

After chatting about work for an afternoon, Zhuang Zheng and Zhang Jing went about their own business.

When the sun is not so scorching, Lu Hanbin can't wait to take Guo Yang to see Cistanche deserticola.

After working hard for several years, he only earned a little income from renting out the greenhouse every year, but he was already thirsty for money.

Arrived at the Haloxylon ammodendron forest.

Guo Yang finally realized why Lu Hanbin was so active.

Under the afterglow of the sun, I saw endless Haloxylon ammodendron forests all around, with rows of Haloxylon ammodendrons neatly arranged and firmly rooted in the sand.

Walking into the Haloxylon ammodendron forest, the originally desertified land has begun to have other weeds sprouting under the protection of Haloxylon ammodendron, and occasionally you can see small animals passing by.

The changes in the ecological environment left Guo Yang and Luo Xiu dumbfounded.

Only at the junction with the sky, the undulating sand dunes show people what this land looked like before its transformation.

The Haloxylon ammodendron forest is like a green barrier, blocking the invasion of the Tengger Desert.

This desert is alive!
No wonder natural energy is increasing anytime and anywhere. Guo Yang sees this situation and thinks that the longer the time, the greater the potential!

Lu Hanbin looked at Guo Yang and Luo Xiu, who were staring at him with wide eyes, and said with a smile, "This is the first patch of Haloxylon ammodendron we planted."

"Good job, Hanbin!"

Lu Hanbin laughed heartily, "We are only halfway through the Long March, and there are still more than 6 mu of trees to be planted!"

Guo Yang said: "This piece is enough. I received news that the leaders of the Ministry of State Affairs will come to inspect in the near future."

Lu Hanbin looked at him in surprise. He had issued instructions many times in recent years regarding the desertification problem in Minqin.

"It should be true. Be prepared, but don't tell anyone else."

Lu Hanbin nodded seriously.

Guo Yang looked at the ecological defense line in front of him and his heart was filled with emotion. It is true that you just invest money and I will give you a green area in return.

After thinking for a while, I seemed to have forgotten something, "Where's the Cistanche deserticola?"

"There is still a month before the harvest season. We have to dig it up now. The plants inoculated with Haloxylon ammodendron are all Cistanche deserticola, which can be harvested twice a year."

After saying that, Lu Hanbin asked the workers who followed him to start looking for it.

"Generally, when cracks appear on the hole surface, the fruits should be picked in time."

After searching for a while, I saw workers holding wooden shovels and starting to dig a hole in the middle of two rows of Haloxylon ammodendron, and piling the dry and wet sand separately.

After digging for a while, the workers became cautious.

Then use your hands to dig up the sand around the Cistanche deserticola so that the Cistanche deserticola plant is fully exposed.

Guo Yang looked at this iron rod-like thing and finally understood why Cistanche deserticola is called the gas station for men.

"How much can this thing sell for now?"

"It depends on the size and type. Desert Cistanche is more expensive than Tubulosa Cistanche. The big ones are sold by the root, costing several hundred yuan each, while the small ones are sold by the kilogram, costing between ten and several hundred yuan per kilogram."

"Once a herdsman dug up a nest of eight Cistanches in the desert and sold them for 8 yuan."

Guo Yang looked at Lu Hanbin meaningfully, "Is it effective?"

"I haven't tried it, but it should be effective." Lu Hanbin smiled. "The main thing is that the vaccination was successful. Large-scale vaccination in the future can produce economies of scale."

"If it stabilizes and produces dozens of kilograms per mu, with a profit of two to three thousand yuan, the desert will be truly alive."

"It just takes too long, at least five years."

Guo Yang was puzzled. "Don't they start harvesting after three years?"

"We inoculated the Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings right after they were planted. Although the survival rate is high, the burial depth is shallow and the yield is low."

"The yield in the first two years was not high. We could only dig a few hundred kilograms for every 1 mu. The yield will be better in the fifth year."

As they were talking, the workers had already cut the Cistanche deserticola horizontally, then applied fertilizer and water to the pit before backfilling and leveling the pit.

"Would you like to try a slice?"

"Now you can?"

Lu Hanbin smiled and said, "Yes, it is very effective if you put it directly under your tongue when it is fresh."

Guo Yang shook his head repeatedly.

"When we get back, I have some dried Cistanche deserticola that someone gave me. I'll use it to make porridge. Add some mutton and deer antler glue, and I guarantee you'll feel energetic after drinking it."

"You make a very reasonable argument, but you still say you don't know if it will work. Did you follow some engineering team out to wash their feet?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

As Lu Hanbin helped the workers pack the Cistanche deserticola, he said, "Let's go and see the last piece of sand pressing."

The car drove for about twenty minutes and passed a shallow Haloxylon ammodendron forest.

The scenery changed dramatically. The buried wheat straw and nylon net sand barriers seemed to have put golden armor on the yellow sand, binding the once rampant yellow dragon.

Going further, in the dozens of kilometers of sand control area, there are rumbling sounds of cars and bustling voices.

Guo Yang saw the imported desert bulldozer, clearing a road in the sand dunes alone.

There is also the grass grid sand barrier machine developed and produced by Fengkai Agricultural Machinery, which can press grass grids visibly faster than humans.

Fewer people are pressing sand.

But the efficiency is actually faster.

Guo Yang felt that the money was not invested in vain!
The land use rights for sand control are as long as 70 years, which is much better than land reclamation.

It can accumulate natural energy, bring economic benefits, and give Guo Yang a stronger sense of accomplishment. He suddenly has the urge to contract more desert.

"Han Bin, what do you think about contracting another desert?"

Seeing his expression, Lu Hanbin smiled and said, "It's totally possible. According to the group's current annual investment plan of 2 million, the money cannot be spent every year, which has led to the expansion of the area of ​​the sand sea from the initial 6.3 acres to the current nearly 15 acres."

"There are still tens of millions left in the account this year."

Guo Yang was a little surprised. There were still so many left? He had always thought that desert control was very expensive.
Since there is spare capacity, we can indeed consider adding more. "How big an area is appropriate?"

"Let's make the area bigger, maybe 50 mu or 100 million mu?"

Lu Hanbin continued: "Next year is the 11th Five-Year Plan. The country attaches great importance to sand prevention and control, and the subsidy policy has been circulated.

The direct subsidy is 300 yuan per mu for tree forests and 180 yuan per mu for shrub forests.

Guo Yang was stunned. He really didn't pay much attention to this matter. No wonder the leader came to inspect at this critical juncture.

"There are also various construction content subsidies, tax policy preferences, and loan preferences."

"I heard that in some places, in order to attract farmers and business investment, the rent per acre of desert is as low as 1 yuan."

Luo Xiu said: "1 yuan? What's the difference between this and giving it away for free?"

"Giving the rent means that the land management entity has been confirmed. Given the size of Shahai, it has been filed with the State Council. Even if the local government wants to break the contract, the lawsuit can be brought to the upper level."

Guo Yang looked at Luo Xiu and habitually made big promises, "You have to learn. It is possible that you will have the opportunity to manage a piece of land in the future. Wu Feng was also a truck driver."

Luo Xiu still had a stern face, making it impossible to see through his thoughts.

After chatting for a while, Guo Yang felt that he could really contract hundreds of thousands of acres of desert.

"Okay, let's decide this first. Shahai will find a team to come up with a plan and report it to the War Investment Department first."

While chatting, they walked in the desert, one step deep and one step shallow.

People kept greeting Lu Hanbin. He was very familiar with the sand control team and could often chat with the foreman about technology and standards.

Or give it a thump.

Guo Yang examined Lu Hanbin bit by bit through these details, and found that his performance was quite satisfactory.

The old saying is true, people’s potential can only be brought out through force.

The sand control team was unfamiliar with Guo Yang, and most of them didn't know who he was until someone from the same village recognized him.

"Are you Guo Yang? Guo Shan's younger brother?"

Guo Yang didn't recognize the man, but he smiled and nodded, and the crowd immediately went wild.

"What? He is Guo Yang? The great philanthropist?"

"What philanthropist? He's a big boss!"

"Guo Shan and his wife can enjoy their life now."

The crowd was talking about it, and the news that the big boss had arrived spread quickly.

So much so that wherever Guo Yang went, people would talk to him, and he would sometimes talk to them too.

"The conditions are better now, the wind and sand are much less than before, and there is hope."

"I have lived in the desert all my life, compacting sand, planting trees and building windbreaks. I never thought that I could earn a pension by planting trees when I am old."

"In the past two years, many people have been able to earn thousands of yuan a year by compacting sand and planting trees."

"That's nothing. If you ask me, the ones who make money are the first ones to contract greenhouses to grow vegetables. Some families can earn tens of thousands a year."

"Before, the crops were full of sand, and we had to shovel the sand out of the ground. Now, the forest has been built, the sand has been controlled, and there is no sand in the ground, so the crops are growing well."

Guo Yang felt very happy when he heard these words. These are the contributions made by Jiahe!
I haven't visited the Hongyashan Reservoir yet, but with the influx of Yellow River water, I think it should be good.

The only regret now is the dried-up Qingtu Lake.

Can Qingtu Lake be transformed into a wetland, or can its original appearance be restored?

This is a daunting task.

But Guo Yang was thinking about Hanhai kenaf and sea buckthorn, "Let's go back, the seeds should be here soon."

Lu Hanbin looked at the sky and said, "The workers are almost off work. I can only take a look when I go back."

"Let's find a place to eat first. I'll arrange for workers to sow seeds early tomorrow morning. The seedlings in the greenhouse are ready and can be used directly."

Guo Yang said, "That's fine. Let's call the management team of Shahai Agriculture and Animal Husbandry today, and then treat all the employees to a meal another day."

"That might have to wait a few days."

"I guess the relevant departments will know about your return tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)