Going 'green' proves lucrative for farmers (2)

It is called 'ecological' because we use less pesticide and less fertilizer. Our formula was designed by professors at agriculture institutions, he said.

This cooperative produced more than 2,000 tons of rice last year. It sells at 8 yuan ($1.3) a kilogram, double that of ordinary rice.

Song said growing "pure organic" rice crops, which require no pesticides or chemical fertilizers, would be too costly for him.

"It is very hard to avoid plant diseases or pests. It is even harder to make money if you add in the expense of renting the land," he said.

But Song said he is committed to working with the professors to discover how to use as few chemicals as possible while at the same time achieving a high output.

"It is important to find the balance because consumers nowadays attach great importance to the source of food," he said.