Good returns from interplanting Millettia speciosa in lychee orchards

Recently, on a mountain ridge in Liuming Village, Dacheng Town, Pubei County, the author saw many Millettia speciosa plants interplanted among the verdant lychee orchards. At present, although it is deep winter, some of the Millettia speciosa in this lychee orchard are growing luxuriantly, and some are already heavy with seed pods.

Liu Jiquan, the owner of the mountain ridge, told the author that in 2012 he leased more than 40 mu of this mountain ridge, and with the support of the village “two committees”, he first planted lychee, then planted Millettia speciosa in the spaces between the lychee trees. Last year, both the lychee and the Millettia speciosa had a good harvest, and the annual income was relatively good. According to Liu Jiquan, Millettia speciosa loves light and tolerates shade, and has strong adaptability. Pubei, as part of its distribution range, is very suitable for the growth of Millettia speciosa. The terrain of the mountain ridge in Liuming Village has excellent conditions for developing Millettia speciosa. Interplanting Millettia speciosa in lychee orchards, by conservative estimate, he interplants 160 plants of Millettia speciosa per mu; after 1 year of growth, the Millettia speciosa can bear seed pods, and 1 kg of seed pods can sell for more than 2000 yuan on the market; a 5-year-old Millettia speciosa yields 4 kg per plant, with a per-mu yield of 640 kg, and a per-mu output value of up to 38400 yuan, while the input per mu is only more than 5000 yuan. As a new economic exploration of interplanting Millettia speciosa in lychee orchards, it has become another innovative model for local farmers to develop under-forest economy, and has also become a new path for the farmers of Dacheng to increase income and become wealthy. When asked about future development, Liu Jiquan smiled and told the author that after the Spring Festival, he will cooperate with villagers, lease more mountain ridges, expand the scale of interplanting Millettia speciosa in lychee orchards, and increase more economic income. Liu Youchao, director of the village committee, said that the village “two committees” will continue to guide farmers in developing planting and breeding industries, especially the new economic model of interplanting Millettia speciosa in lychee orchards, so that farmers can increase income and become wealthy.