HENGYANG - On the morning of August 18, Zhu Jian, Deputy Secretary of the Hengyang Municipal Committee and Mayor, conducted a special field visit to Shigu District and Hengdong County to investigate the comprehensive utilization of crop straw. During his visit, Mayor Zhu emphasized the need to adopt a problem-oriented approach, combining guidance and restriction measures, to promote the efficient and tailored management of straw recycling and controlled burning. This initiative aims to contribute practical solutions to rural revitalization and ecological civilization construction.

▲ Mayor Zhu Jian (center) inspects straw recycling efforts at Xiangzhangyuan Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd. in Shigu District.
In Xudong Village, Jiaoshan Town, Shigu District, local authorities have been actively promoting straw bundling and removal technologies. The bundled straw is transported to Xiangzhangyuan Ecological Agriculture Development Co., Ltd., where it is repurposed as animal feed. Mayor Zhu meticulously examined the current state of straw feed utilization and discussed the costs associated with collection, storage, and transportation. He underscored the urgency and responsibility required to balance straw recycling with strict burning bans, advocating for precisely designated no-burn zones and round-the-clock monitoring to prevent open burning and protect air quality. Additionally, he called for exploring sustainable, replicable, and scalable models to transform straw into valuable resources, thereby injecting new vitality into agricultural development. Mayor Zhu also stressed the importance of enhancing fire prevention measures at straw storage sites, improving emergency plans, and ensuring safety protocols are strictly enforced.

▲ Mayor Zhu Jian (right) engages with large-scale grain growers at Caixia Village Straw Comprehensive Utilization Demonstration Zone in Hengdong County.
At the demonstration zone in Caixia Village, Mishui Town, Hengdong County, agricultural machinery buzzed across the fields, conducting both in-situ straw crushing for returning to fields and centralized bundling for removal. Mayor Zhu sat down with large-scale grain farmers for a heartfelt conversation, delving into the comparative costs of these two methods and listening to their genuine concerns. He noted that straw management impacts farmers’ livelihoods, ecological conservation, and national food security. With a rigorous and practical attitude, he advocated for calculating costs per mu (a Chinese unit of area) and benefits across larger plots, tailoring approaches to local conditions, and establishing a robust straw collection, storage, and transportation system. This includes planning storage centers and village-level collection networks, fostering specialized service organizations, and ensuring comprehensive recycling. Mayor Zhu also highlighted the need for extensive public awareness campaigns to educate villagers on environmental responsibilities and interdepartmental collaboration to achieve tangible results.

Vice Mayor Zeng Jianhua and Government Secretary-General Liao Yizhi accompanied Mayor Zhu during the visit.

Background: Straw Recycling Gains Momentum Nationwide
Hengyang’s efforts reflect a broader national push to tackle straw waste. In Fujian Province, for instance, innovative models have turned straw into fertilizer, mushroom substrate, and dairy feed, emphasizing high-value and eco-friendly solutions. Liaoning Province has also made strides, with over 93% straw utilization in 2024, nearly half of which was for feed production through processes like silage and microbial fermentation. These initiatives align with China’s 2025 Central No. 1 Document, which explicitly supports comprehensive straw utilization to ensure food security and reduce environmental impact.