What Are the Prospects for Kiwifruit Cultivation? Latest Analysis and Interpretation

Kiwifruit belongs to the genus Actinidia in the family Actinidiaceae. It is a deciduous vine fruit tree, rich in various vitamins and nutritional elements, and is hailed as the “king of fruits”, with high economic and cultivation value. At present, many people are developing kiwifruit cultivation. Let us now look at the prospects for kiwifruit cultivation!

Prospects for Kiwifruit Cultivation

1. Kiwifruit is hailed as the “king of fruits” and the “champion of VC”. Its fruit is tender and juicy, sweet and sour, with a pleasant fragrance. Its VC content per 100 grams of fresh flesh is as high as 100-480 mg (in individual cases such as Actinidia chinensis var. hispida it reaches 1350 mg), several times, dozens of times, or even a hundred times higher than that of citrus and apples. It also contains large amounts of sugars, proteins, amino acids and various other organic substances, as well as a variety of minerals essential to the human body.

2. Kiwifruit is comprehensively nutritious. It has certain auxiliary and therapeutic effects on various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, constipation and obesity, and has remarkable effects on beauty care.

3. Kiwifruit can be processed into many products such as juice, fruit wine, fruit crystals, preserved fruit and jam, with huge potential for value-added processing. More than 30 countries around the world already cultivate it. In 2004, total output was 1.009 million tons. The earliest and largest exporter is New Zealand, where 70-80% of the fresh fruit produced is for export. By 2004, China cultivated only 58,000 hectares of kiwifruit, producing 350,000 tons of fresh fruit, only a little over 200 grams per person, which simply cannot meet the demand for fresh consumption and processing.

Hilly areas, low mountain gentle slopes in subtropical and temperate regions with good ecology and vegetation and an altitude above 50 meters are most suitable for commercial kiwifruit cultivation. Other places cannot achieve high yield, high quality, or may not set fruit at all, or cannot overwinter. If farmers in these places can seize the opportunity to build orchards to high standards, they can enjoy good returns for decades. At present, the farm-gate price of high-quality kiwifruit is 4-6 yuan per kilogram, the selling price in Shanghai and Beijing is 20-24 yuan per kilogram, and in Shenzhen it is 2 yuan each.

Economic Returns of Kiwifruit Cultivation

1. Early-stage cultivation investment

(1) Land preparation, trenching (hole digging) and fertilizer burial require about 600-700 yuan per 667 sq m. If you use your own labor or ask relatives and friends for help, the cost can be at least halved.

(2) Fertilizer burial: purchasing pig manure, cow manure and oil cake, etc. requires 600-700 yuan per 667 sq m. If barnyard manure can be
solved on your own, the cost can be halved.

(3) Grafted seedlings: 56 plants per 667 sq m, at 2.5 yuan each, requires 140 yuan.

(4) Trellis construction

① T-shaped trellis: about 40 steel-reinforced concrete posts per 667 sq m, at 20 yuan each, totaling 800 yuan. 40 angle irons, at 20 yuan each, totaling 800 yuan. 150 kg of galvanized No. 8 iron wire per 667 sq m, requiring 750 yuan. The three items total 2350 yuan.

② Hedge trellis: hedge trellises are most suitable for mountainous areas or terraced fields. About 40 concrete posts per 667 sq m, totaling 800 yuan. 150 kg of No. 8 galvanized iron wire, requiring 750 yuan. The two items total 1550 yuan.

③ Large canopy trellis: suitable for flat or gentle slope land such as low hills and hills. The investment for trellis construction is comparable to that of the hedge trellis.

④ Simple wooden trellis: in areas with timber resources, it may be used as a substitute as a last resort, but it is best not to use this kind of trellis. Wooden posts must be soaked in preservative and coated with asphalt before use. About 1000 yuan of investment is required per 667 sq m.

(5) Low-level improvement and fertilizer burial in the second and third years requires an investment of 2400-2800 yuan per 667 sq m.

(6) Depending on the type of trellis, etc., about 6500-5000 yuan is required per 667 sq m over 3 years after planting.

In addition, building storage (living) rooms, etc. also requires some investment.

2. Cultivation income budget

① Intercropping: intercropping peanuts, melons, soybeans, etc. in the first 3 years can yield a net profit of 200-300 yuan per 667 sq m per year, totaling 600-900 yuan over 3 years.

② Kiwifruit income: in the 4th year, 667 sq m can produce 300-400 kg of fruit. Calculated at 4 yuan per kilogram, this can bring in 1200-1600 yuan, with a net profit of 600-1000 yuan. From the fifth year it enters the full production period. At 1000 kg of commercial fruit per 667 sq m, this can bring in 4000 yuan, with a net profit of 3000-3200 yuan.

③ Pig raising: be sure to raise 1 pig per 667 sq m. This not only solves problems such as organic fertilizer and cost reduction, but also improves the soil and greatly enhances quality. Each pig can yield a net profit of 150-200 yuan. Calculated at 10 pigs, this can yield a net profit of 1500-2000 yuan.

④ Orchard three-dimensional net enclosure chicken raising: raising native chickens can eat insects and control weeds. Stocking 20 birds per 667 sq m can yield a net profit of 150-200 yuan.

⑤ After entering the full production period, all investment can be recovered in 1.5 to 2 years, and thereafter a net profit of 3000-3200 yuan per 667 sq m can be obtained each year. If one household plants 6670 sq m or 1 hectare, a net profit of at least 33000-49000 yuan can be obtained per year.

Cultivation Precautions

1. Be sure to select improved varieties: China's north and south differ greatly in climate and soil, so be sure to select excellent varieties suited to the local area. New varieties should be trial-planted and promoted only after success. Good varieties suitable for cultivation in the Yangtze River basin include: Kuimi, Jinfeng, Fengmixiao, Jinkui, Miliang No. 1, etc. Varieties suitable for cultivation in the Yellow River basin include: Huaguang No. 2, Qinmei, etc. In Northeast China, it is best to plant Actinidia arguta (hardy kiwifruit).

2. Only low hills, hills, flat land at the foot of low mountains or gentle slopes with good vegetation and ecology at an altitude above 50 meters and below 500 meters are suitable for commercial cultivation. Do not cultivate in other places.

3. Varieties must be pure: many growers have suffered greatly from impure varieties. Ensure variety purity above 98%.

4. Kiwifruit requires high fertilizer and water cultivation, and chemical fertilizers should be applied as little as possible.

5. It is best to build steel-reinforced concrete trellises.

6. One household can only manage 6670 sq m to 1 hectare of kiwifruit well. Cultivating beyond one's capacity is self-destruction.

7. Farmers who cannot ensure sufficient investment should cultivate little or no kiwifruit.

8. Artificial pollination and flower and fruit thinning are essential, otherwise the commercial rate and quality will drop greatly.

9. Fruit must be graded, and handled with light picking, light placing, light transport and light storage.

10. Biological or plant-based pesticides should be used for pest and disease control.

11. Attach great importance to bud rubbing, pinching, and prevention of waterlogging and drought damage.

12. In paddy fields and high-water-table land such as mountain foot areas, it is best not to cultivate kiwifruit.

Alright, that is all for the prospects of kiwifruit cultivation. In one sentence, “the market determines the prospects” - a good market means good cultivation prospects!