Aba County Expands High-Quality Forage Production Through Modern Farming Technology

Dragon Media News Desk

With the arrival of autumn, Aba County in Sichuan Province has entered the peak season for harvesting high-quality forage. Modern harvesting machines are operating across forage production bases, creating a busy seasonal scene in the plateau farming areas.

To address the limitations of traditional cultivation in the cold high-altitude environment, Aba has expanded scientific and standardized forage production. Local production bases are cultivating mixed oat and legume forage varieties that are well suited to plateau conditions, tolerant of cold weather and capable of strong growth.

According to Tian Lu, a teacher at the School of Life Science and Agriculture and Forestry of Southwest University of Science and Technology, Aba County lies in a cold plateau region where traditional forage cultivation previously resulted in relatively low yields, weak growth and inefficient land use.

This year, the production base has improved cultivation techniques to better match local geographical and climatic conditions. Oats and legumes are planted together, allowing the natural nitrogen-fixing capacity of legumes to help improve soil fertility. The method also reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers while supporting better soil quality.

Standardized forage cultivation has helped address longstanding problems such as low output, uneven quality and poor utilization of farmland in plateau areas. Through scientific planting and more precise management, forage yields have increased significantly, with production at the base reaching up to 5,000 kilograms.

Higher forage output is important not only for ensuring sufficient feed for livestock. It also contributes to ecological improvement, higher incomes for herders and more stable livestock production.

In recent years, Aba County has focused on developing forage cultivation models suited to its high-altitude and cold-climate conditions. Through technological innovation, improved planting structures, upgraded production methods and more systematic management, the county has worked to strengthen the foundation of its livestock industry.

These efforts are also supporting ecological protection in the upper reaches of the Yellow River while providing new momentum for rural industrial development. Local authorities and agricultural specialists regard the expansion of scientific forage production as an important way to combine ecological protection, sustainable animal husbandry and income growth for local herders.