440 Modern Agricultural Reforms
to generate biogas, which provides energy for cooking and lighting. The sludge
from the biogas plant was used as fertilizer for agriculture or horticulture.
Benefits analysis
Through efforts in ecological construction, significant economic, ecological and
social benefits were achieved.
Economic benefits
According to an estimate in 1993, the gross production of the village reached 100
million yuan RMB, of which 2.09 million yuan was from cultivation, 12.84 mil-
lion yuan from animal husbandry, 400,000 yuan from forestry, 84.67 million yuan
from cottage industry, of which 14.88 million yuan was net profit. The average
gross economic growth rate of the village was as high as 57.2 per cent, and the
average net profit growth rate reached 38.0 per cent (Table 18.12).
Ecological benefits
After over ten years’ construction, the environmental conditions were much
improved (Table 18.13). The Liumingying eco-village has been recognized by the
national government as a typical model for development eco-villages in northern
China and was among those awarded the World 500 best by UNEP.
Social benefits
Great progress has been achieved in social development, and this can be summar-
ized:
Figure 18.4 Homestead garden ecosystem (small cycle)