New hope for prosperity grows in yellow-leaf-disease-affected banana fields in Jinping, Honghe
On January 22, the reporter went to Mengla Town, Jinping County for an interview. Across the entire Mengla flatland, rubber and banana trees form one continuous stretch. Large-scale planting makes winter Mengla beautiful and moving!
“Mengla bananas have been grown in the fields for more than ten years. In our village, many villagers plant bananas, and bananas have become the pillar industry of Mengla. But in the past year, some banana trees have been infected with yellow leaf disease. Once this disease is contracted, bananas can no longer be planted on that plot of land.” Bai Mingxin, deputy secretary of the Party General Branch of Mengla Village, Mengla Town, Jinping County, introduced this to the reporter while leading the reporter into a pepper field beside the banana field.
“In May 2017, we introduced the Chaotian pepper variety 617, and began formal planting in August. Now a demonstration base for pepper planting of more than 300 mu has been formed.” From the introduction by Yang Jianli, head of Jinping Jinlazi Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., the reporter learned that yellow leaf disease has significantly affected the local banana planting industry and attracted the government's attention. The government began using some abandoned and unmanaged banana fields to try growing papaya, eggplant, green beans and various other crops, but due to reasons such as technology and sales channels, large-scale promotion of cultivation could not be achieved. Finally, it was decided to introduce peppers, which are suitable for the local climate and have good market demand, adopt automatic sprinkler and drip irrigation, and use modern advanced agricultural technology and management to form large-scale planting.
The reporter approached a pepper plant and saw that among its green branches and leaves there were already abundant fruits. “This place has unique natural conditions and the advantage of a warm winter climate, making it suitable for growing early-spring vegetables. This variety of Chaotian pepper was chosen because it matures early. After ripening, the fruit is 7—8 cm long, 1.2 cm in diameter, and weighs 3—4 grams per fruit. It has high yield, a crisp texture and moderate spiciness.” After several months of exploratory planting, Yang Jianli has already accumulated a certain amount of experience. He said that in 2018, the plan is to complete pepper planting in July and bring it to market in November and December, when market conditions are best, as well as the following January, achieving an income of more than 20,000 yuan per mu.
“The purpose of the pepper planting demonstration base is to show new varieties to farmers, drive early-spring vegetable planting through a radiating and leading role, help the broad masses of farmers increase their income, and improve economic benefits.” Bai Mingxin said: “Now, 8 households whose banana fields have been affected by yellow leaf disease are willing to switch to growing peppers. We provide them with seedlings and fertilizer free of charge, and have created a WeChat group where technical update plans and pest prevention and treatment methods are shared in the group. While giving them technical support, we can also see feedback on their planting situation at the first opportunity.”
“Now the workers who come to the field every day to pick peppers are all preferentially selected from registered poor households in nearby villages, in this way increasing their income and helping poverty alleviation.” Villager Wang Xiaoneng, who was picking peppers in the pepper field, is a registered poor household from Shuitang Village, Mengla Village Committee. He told the reporter: “Starting last September, we came to the pepper field to lay pipes, apply pesticides and fertilize. The daily wage is 100 yuan. When work is busy, we come almost every day. Now it is the picking season, and wages are calculated at a picking price of 2 yuan per kilogram. In a day, we can still earn about 100 yuan.”
“In 2018, through the model of Party building + specialized cooperative + base + farmers, we will strive to expand the planting scale and form a 1,000-mu pepper demonstration base, boost the development of deep processing of agricultural products, broaden sales channels, and create our own brand.” Bai Mingxin said that by continuously improving cultivation techniques, banana fields originally affected by yellow leaf disease can also once again “grow” new hope for prosperity.