Zhao Guangyu keeps wiping sweat off his forehead in the newly established greenhouse, while outside is -20 C.

After rolling back straw felt, Zhao rechecks the thermometer hanging over the light green leek.

"It is really demanding to transfer from chick raising to greenhouse vegetable planting," said Zhao.

Even though Zhao is a Chinese farmer in the Northeast, he knows little about planting vegetables. Since the early '90s, he and most of his fellow villagers in Heishan, Liaoning Province, have looked to poultry to provide a living instead of corn and rice.

As a result, the small rural county of Heishan was one of the major egg producers in China.

Statistics from the local government show that Heishan raised more than 20 million chicks and exported hundreds of tons of eggs to Hong Kong last year. Poultry industry contributes about half of local farmers' annual incomes.

Anticipating a good harvest, Zhao expanded his henhouse to around 2,000 egg layers at the beginning of this year.

But instead, the highly pathogenic bird flu hit the county in November, causing severe consequences for its farmers.

More than 15 million birds had to be culled in the following weeks.

At least 50,000 chicken farmers in 19 townships and villages of Heishan were involved and their direct losses totalled about 300 million yuan (US$ 37 million), according to the local government.

Many other related industries as feedstuff, animal drug and transportation are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Even though the quarantine was finally lifted on at the beginning of this month, there is still a six months observation period ahead, meaning local egg ranchers have to find new ways to earn a living.

After the bird flu, farmer Zhao received around 20,000 yuan (US$2,466) from the local government as compensation for his culled birds. After discussion with his wife, Zhao set up three greenhouses of leeks, hot peppers and cucumbers with local authority's aid.

"I never imagined that I will resume planting work since I gave it up 10 years ago," said Zhao.

Poultry processing plants in Liaoning Province also felt the pinch of the epidemic.

Since bird flu broke out, people reduced the consumption of chicken and duck.

Tian Shumei, vice-manager of the Rentai breeding plant in Taian County of Anshan, a neighbouring city of Heishan, told China Daily his orders fell drastically in the past month, even though no bird flu case was found there.

"What we can do is to fulfil the past order now," said Tian.

Local government worried what foul farmers could do to earn money after their livelihoods were knocked down by bird flu.

"We have tried every means to help farmers start new life which include labour force export, restart crops and vegetable planting and raise other animals, " said Xu Hui, senior official from Heishan county government.

Local government provided financial support and resources on planting vegetables for farmers who wanted to make the change.

Chance to improve industry

However, some experts said this catastrophe might be a turning point for further healthy poultry industry development, if the government could make full use of this chance.

"If we can use this chance to standardize the poultry raising and the marketing, we can put the vital virus under control," said Gong Guifen from the China Animal Agricultural Association.

Gong emphasized that the local government should help establish a relationship between the egg rancher and processing plant.

This has reportedly been effective in preventing spread of disease to some egg farms in Anshan.

"Raising chicks has been proven the right way for Heishan. Most of these farmers will resume the industry after six months," said Zhang Min, an official from the local government.

Zhao said he would raise chick after the quarantine observation period was over and pay more attention to bird disease prevention.

"Anyway, we cannot wait and just stand here. We have to raise the family and pay for our child's education," said Zhao.

(China Daily December 26, 2005)