Broccoli blooms across the fields of Chenchang Town, Xiantao City

“In 2016, we plan to expand the scale of broccoli cultivation, build a refrigerated storage and logistics center, and make the broccoli industry bigger and stronger!” On January 8, at the first broccoli cultivation promotion meeting in Chenchang Town, Xiantao, Tang Zhongwei, chairman of the Shengshi Jiaren Green Fruit and Vegetable Professional Cooperative, energetically “promoted” to the more than 700 growers attending the meeting.

As the initiator of this promotion meeting, the Shengshi Jiaren Cooperative is full of confidence. The cooperative has nearly 10,000 stable members, its broccoli is sold to all parts of the country, and it has a thousand-ton-level cold storage and a 50,000-mu base. “Last year I planted 100 mu of broccoli, and the net profit reached 200,000 yuan! This year, I plan to plant 200 mu.” Grower Liu Zhiguo used to work away from home and could earn at most 40,000 yuan a year. Since returning home in 2012 to grow broccoli, his annual income has increased several times over.

Like Liu Zhiguo, many growers who have tasted the benefits are preparing to expand their planting area. “The cooperative will also increase investment, build a low-temperature refrigerated storage and logistics center, and provide technical guidance throughout the process.” Tang Zhongwei's promise at the promotion meeting further strengthened everyone's determination. “The broccoli market has good prospects. Growing broccoli not only meets the need for adjusting the agricultural industrial structure in winter, but can also further promote increased production and income.” A relevant person in charge of Chenchang Town said that the town's broccoli planting area has reached 8,000 mu, and this year it will strive to exceed 15,000 mu, making the broccoli industry bigger and stronger and forming a brand effect.