Pulling up traps, collecting crayfish cages... As the Labor Day approaches, rice paddy crayfish are being harvested on a large scale.

At the Tuoshanyan Rice-Crayfish Farming Base in the Yinjiang Town, grain grower Wu Weifeng and his workers haul up over 50 crayfish traps daily. The catch is immediately transported to a sorting area for weighing, categorizing, packing, and shipping to wholesalers, retail customers, and nearby restaurants.

"These crayfish are large, with perfectly firm shells. The meat must be excellent," said Wu Weifeng cheerfully, holding up a freshly caught crayfish. He added that locally farmed rice paddy crayfish are in high demand, with wholesale prices ranging from 50 to 60 yuan per kilogram. The "crayfish-double-crop rice" model produces larger, tastier crayfish, making them a favorite among diners.

The "crayfish-double-crop rice" model in the Haishu District was developed to ensure grain production while increasing farmers' income. This marks its second year of implementation. This model breaks the traditional "double-crop rice" limitation in Ningbo by adding crayfish farming. During fallow periods, aquatic plants and insect eggs in the paddies serve as natural feed for crayfish, while their waste fertilizes the subsequent early rice crop.

"Many diners assume crayfish thrive in dirty water, but high-quality water can also produce tastier meat," said Pan Lingjie, an agronomist from the Haishu District Agricultural Technology Management Service Station. Currently, six major growers in the district are piloting this model. Agronomists not only provide guidance but also enforce strict water quality standards and regulate pesticide and fertilizer use.

Last year, the model increased output value by 5,000 yuan per mu, with significantly fewer pests compared to conventional farming. This year, Haishu's crayfish farming spans over 1,000 mu, yielding 75 to 80 kilograms per mu on average. Next, agronomists will trial a "two-crayfish-two-rice" model (crayfish-crayfish/early rice co-culture-late rice) to turn fields into "treasure basins" and further boost agricultural output value.