The Nangang district government of Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, has invested 7 million yuan ($1.41 million) to buy farm machinery in order to help farmers utilize the straw in the fields more ecologically this November.

Five baling machines and two hay rakes began working in fields on Nov 10, disposing of straw in more than 1,000 mu of field per day.

The rural tradition of burning straw after the autumn harvest and burying the ashes in the ground as fertilizer, led to the village being plagued with smog for many days.

To prevent straw burning from polluting the environment, the local government listened to the advice of farmers and invested in farm machinery to help farmers recycle the straw in their fields and sell it on to straw-consuming enterprises.

A bailing machine at work in a field in Nangang district, Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Nov 10, 2014. [Photo/my399.com]