In an exclusive interview with Zhao Shifeng, a farmer who has been transforming the agricultural landscape in Gansu Province, he shared his experiences and insights. “This year, the vegetable growth has been strong, and the market prices are favorable,” Zhao said. Since he began leasing land two years ago to establish a field vegetable base, Zhao has been exploring innovative intercropping planting methods. This diverse approach not only mitigates risks but also enhances profitability. Having dedicated his life to farming, Zhao never imagined that after reaching his sixties, he would become a self-proclaimed “boss.” His family’s standard of living has significantly improved thanks to his vegetable cultivation.
Based in Chenghu Village, Dongzhi Town in Qinyang City, Zhao has seen success this autumn with crops like cabbage and radishes ready for sale in local supermarkets and farmer’s markets. This year, he planted 10 acres of coriander and 30 acres of cabbage, with an estimated total cabbage yield of around 300,000 pounds. Furthermore, he anticipates a gross income of about 300,000 yuan by the year’s end.
Another farmer, Wang Xinbao, has cultivated 150 acres of chili peppers in Gouquan Village this year. He began harvesting in late August, with picking continuing through early October, expecting a yield of over 4,000 pounds per acre. “We signed a contract with the Gansu Chongfeng Farmers Cooperative, which provides seedlings, technical support, and assistance with sales. This order-based planting approach addresses technical and market access challenges. I’m planning to continue cultivating field vegetables next year,” Wang shared.
This year, Qinyang City has implemented various agricultural development models, including “Enterprise + Base + Farmers,” “Cooperative + Farmers,” and “Party Branch + Cooperative + Farmers.” By leveraging agricultural enterprises, cooperatives, and village collectives, the city aims to develop demonstration bases that encourage the planting of chili pepper varieties like Longla-17 and Jiao Jiao No.1 across 17,800 acres, with a projected yield of approximately 18,000 tons and a value of around 90 million yuan.
As field vegetable cultivation expands, greenhouse vegetable production is also thriving. Workers at the facility vegetable base in Li Ling Village, Shishe Township, are busy harvesting zucchini and chili peppers, preparing them for distribution to external markets. Xu Tianpeng, head of Qinyang City Chuangyuan Agricultural Service Co., Ltd, noted, “During this time, workers are mainly harvesting peppers and zucchinis, managing to pick around 12,000 to 13,000 pounds each day, with expectations to wrap up by November.” Since 2023, the company has developed the facility vegetable industry in two villages, ensuring high yield and quality through dedicated technical staff overseeing every phase of the process. Currently, they operate 203 greenhouses, growing a variety of vegetables including peppers, zucchinis, cabbages, and melons. This initiative has also created job opportunities for over 80 local residents, with average annual earnings of about 30,000 yuan each.
“Our vegetables are cultivated under contract. We have sales agreements with markets like Xinqiao in Xi’an and the Laoganma chili sauce factory in Guizhou, ensuring a stable market,” Xu expressed. This year, the projected total output value from melons and vegetables is between 5 million and 6 million yuan, providing over 1.8 million yuan in labor income for local villagers. Next year, the company plans to adjust the vegetable varieties based on market demands and aims to expand its growing area to 500 greenhouses.
In recent years, Qinyang City has recognized the vegetable industry as a crucial means of increasing farmer income and promoting rural revitalization. Their development strategy focuses on fostering leading enterprises, establishing bases, extending supply chains, enhancing technology, and increasing efficiency. With the initiative being spearheaded by enterprises, cooperatives, and village collectives, the city has consistently expanded the cultivation of facility vegetables and field peppers. They are also introducing and promoting new varieties and technologies while encouraging standardized and branding practices within the vegetable industry.
To further incentivize farmers, the Qinyang City government has introduced financial subsidies and improved technical guidance, mobilizing agricultural experts to provide on-the-ground training in planting techniques and management practices. By conducting workshops and offering hands-on support, they aim to enhance the quality and yield of vegetables, thus boosting their competitiveness in the market.
Thanks to these supportive policies, numerous enterprises, cooperatives, and village collectives have joined the ranks of vegetable industry development. Recently, the Qinyang Agricultural Industrialization Development Center revealed that two large vegetable bases have been established, including the Xiaojin facility vegetable base and the Zhifang Village’s chili pepper base, along with six additional bases spanning over 100 acres. The initiatives have resulted in a total vegetable planting area of 91,000 acres, yielding 147,000 tons of produce worth approximately 560 million yuan.
