Taizhou village thrives despite adversity

Farming ponds in Taotou village, Sanmen county, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Taotou village has once again made the 2022 list of villages with characteristic industries released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, a recognition of its aquaculture sector with an annual output value of over 100 million yuan ($13.96 million).

This marks the village's third inclusion in the list, the latest edition of which was published earlier this year.

Taotou village serves as a testament to the adage that out of misfortune springs fortune. Devastated by the strongest typhoon in 220 years back in August 1997, Taizhou's Sanmen county, where the village is located, faced unprecedented challenges.

Over 260 hectares of the village's fields were rendered unusable due to the increased salinity caused by the seawater intrusion that lasted for over 40 days. This catastrophe forced the local villagers to shift their focus towards aquaculture, as crop cultivation became unfeasible for at least three years.

Today, Taotou village specializes in producing a range of seafood, including blue crab, blood clam, razor clam, and shrimp. The success of its aquaculture industry has even led it to expand its operations beyond the national borders. Taotou has ventured into countries such as Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Mozambique, leasing land to cultivate blue crabs.

In 2022 alone, the aquaculture sector in Taotou recorded an output surpassing 180 million yuan, contributing significantly to the collective income of the village, which exceeded 11.42 million yuan. Additionally, the per capita income of Taotou's residents skyrocketed, surpassing 100,000 yuan.

Nestled on an island, Taotou village is home to approximately 2,000 individuals and comprises a diverse population. Notably, the village accommodates 185 residents from the She ethnic minority, showcasing the cultural richness and diversity of the community.