"Before, I thought working away from home was the only way to broaden my horizons. Now, I realize that staying rooted in my hometown can also lead to success," said Mr. Zhang, a former construction worker who returned to his village in 2017 with little knowledge of pig farming. Today, he manages a farm in Chongqing’s Hechuan district with an annual output of over 3,000 pigs and is recognized as a "model partner" of DEKON AGR (02419). He recalls the early struggles—his feed conversion ratio remained stubbornly high, and the marketable rate of his pigs barely reached 95%. However, after adopting DEKON’s technical and management systems, his farm underwent a dramatic transformation. By 2024, his farm achieved a feed conversion ratio of 2.39 for market-ready pigs weighing 142kg, with a marketable rate soaring to 99.13%. The shift from "Worker Zhang" to "Farm Owner Zhang" underscores the pivotal role DEKON played in his journey.
As the first company in the industry to empower farmers with the skills to raise sows effectively, DEKON has prioritized "linking and leading farmers" through collaborative chain development since its inception. Over a decade ago, Chairman Wang Degen identified "sow-raising proficiency" as a critical competitive edge for pig farmers, a conviction strengthened after studying Europe’s advanced livestock industry. Yet, traditional models like self-breeding or "company + farmer" piglet-rearing partnerships dominated the market. Initially, even within DEKON, Wang faced resistance when promoting the "No. 2 Family Farm" model—a system where farmers raise sows with company-backed training. Gaining farmer trust in this innovative approach proved even more challenging.
Guided by the principle of "tackling the difficult," DEKON carved out a unique path over the years. Wang believes fostering high-quality farmers is the first step. To this end, DEKON established a Farm Service Department, deploying specialized teams to provide farmers with comprehensive sow-raising methodologies. Take Mr. Li, a master’s graduate in animal science serving in DEKON’s Hechuan branch: his academic background laid a theoretical foundation, while hands-on experience at DEKON transformed him into a skilled farm advisor. Under his meticulous management—covering feed ratios, temperature control, behavioral monitoring, and equipment maintenance—farms in his jurisdiction achieved zero operational disruptions in 2024, with an average marketable rate exceeding 96%.
The Farm Service Department exemplifies DEKON’s commitment to supporting family farms. After years of refinement, DEKON has built a standardized management system offering full-lifecycle support to partners. Prospective farmers undergo rigorous screening, followed by training in farm construction, breeding techniques, and corporate culture before production begins. Throughout the partnership, DEKON provides continuous technical guidance, with dedicated managers conducting regular on-site supervision. This end-to-end support has turned novices like Mr. Zhang into industry benchmarks.
DEKON’s model extends beyond beginners, also enhancing the efficiency of experienced farmers through premium breeding stock, data-driven management, and expert services. This approach represents a light-asset strategy—modernizing traditional farms by upgrading productivity without direct capacity expansion, thereby unlocking growth in an evolving industry.
Farmer adoption of DEKON’s No. 2 Family Farm model is rising steadily, thanks to its resilience-building benefits. By optimizing productivity—evidenced by a PSY (piglets weaned per sow per year) increase to 27 in H1 2024—and improving feed efficiency and disease control, DEKON helps farmers maximize profits during market upswings while bolstering resilience against downturns.
This model is a win-win: for DEKON, its light-asset, high-efficiency structure ensures cyclical resilience and growth potential; for farmers, it offers a viable pathway to entrepreneurship, whether for returning migrants or rural graduates. On a broader scale, DEKON’s farmer-centric innovation contributes meaningfully to national rural revitalization and common prosperity goals.
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