Rat breeders worry over their future

Cooperatives urged

Long Yichun, from Gongcheng, who owns a cooperative that buys bamboo rats from breeders and trades them with others, said: "The cost of feed is a burden for breeders, especially those who have loans. With no income during this period, you have no time to do other things because you're preoccupied with the rodents."

The local government encouraged such cooperatives to be set up to help people establish businesses.

Long has 2,000 of the rodents, and it costs him 14,500 yuan a month to feed them and employ two workers.

"Many breeders grow bamboo or sugar cane to feed the rats. If they are forced to switch jobs－for example, to grow crops－they will find such work difficult, as it requires digging up deeply embedded roots," he said.

He added that it takes about three years for a breeder to recover his or her initial outlay. In the second year, many breeders take out loans to expand their businesses.

"Those with loans who have recently escaped from poverty, or are still living under the poverty line, will be hit hard if the industry dies. Some companies have invested much more than individuals, with such sums reaching several million yuan," he said.

"For breeders, our only wish is that the compensation paid is reasonable, to reduce losses as much as possible."