Shilou Rice Field Worms

Shilou Rice Field Worms

　　Shilou Rice Field Worms

　　Rice field worms are annelid organisms that live in the soil of rice paddies. In the past, they were widely distributed across the rice-growing areas of Panyu’s “Dashatian” region and were a traditional local specialty of Panyu. Over the past decade or so, due to the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, the yield of rice field worms has significantly declined. Shilou Town in Panyu District is located along the Pearl River, featuring deep soil layers and high-quality water. Moreover, many local farmers have long maintained the habit of cultivating rice field worms and generally possess the necessary farming techniques. The rice field worms produced in the town are known for their large size, golden color, delicious taste, and high protein content. They enjoy a high reputation within the district, neighboring counties and cities, as well as in Hong Kong and Macau, and are highly favored by food enthusiasts.

　　To revitalize traditional premium products and enhance the overall benefits of agricultural production, in 2000, Panyu District incorporated the Shilou Shabei Rice Field Worm Cultivation Base into an agricultural industrialization project. By improving farmland road networks, upgrading production conditions, and summarizing and promoting rice field worm cultivation experience, the yield and profitability have gradually increased. The town now has several villages with relatively large-scale rice field worm cultivation, including Shabei, Shanan, Jiang’ou, Haixin, Qingliu, and Yufeng, covering a total area of over 8,100 mu. Production has reached a preliminary scale and shows a trend of continuous expansion. Currently, under normal circumstances, the town produces more than 80 tons of fresh rice field worms per year, making it an important source of additional income and prosperity for some local farmers.

　　Rice field worms are mainly harvested twice a year, and some households have transitioned from seasonal cultivation to near-year-round production. Large quantities are harvested and marketed around the time when early and late rice crops produce panicles and bloom—typically from May to June for early rice and from September to October for late rice.