Yew tree cultivation brings Wang Guangwei the fruit of prosperity

"I have already made the branches of yew trees into health care pillows and sent them to a professional institution in the United States for testing. Once they meet the standards, they can go into production and enter the American market." Recently, the reporter received a call from Wang Guangwei, a grower in Yaozhuang Town, saying that the yew trees he planted have been deep-processed into a series of products such as health foods, cups, and chopsticks, and now he has developed a new product - a series of yew health pillows. The reporter was full of curiosity about this.

Wang Guangwei is the only grower in our county who cultivates yew trees. In 2009, he transferred 230 mu of land in Jinxing Village, Yaozhuang Town, to plant yew trees. Recently, the reporter came to Wang Guangwei's yew planting base and saw him using a cutting machine to chop and grind dried yew branches into powder. "These are the raw materials for making yew health pillows." The development of more and more yew products has made Wang Guangwei increasingly confident about the prospects of growing yew trees. "I hope to obtain greater economic benefits through diversified development." When Wang Guangwei talked about his beloved yew industry, his face immediately lit up with confidence.

Yew, in our country, is listed as a first-class rare and endangered protected plant. Since the late 1990s, people in China have gradually begun to plant yew trees. Because the branches, leaves, roots, and bark contain a high amount of the natural anticancer drug paclitaxel, yew also has the reputation of being a "money tree." Wang Guangwei, 51 years old this year, is from Fuzhou, Jiangxi. In 2000, he followed fellow townspeople to Shanghai to make a living. "I worked in catering and sold clothing, and later, due to various reasons, both ended in failure. Just when I was full of confusion about the future, a relative came to me wanting to start a business together." Wang Guangwei said that in 2009 he first heard about and saw yew trees.

Through a friend's introduction, Wang Guangwei and his relative established the yew base in Jinxing Village. "I chose this place because of its geographical location. It is close to Shanghai and has convenient transportation." The growth cycle of yew is relatively long, and the returns are relatively slow. From seedlings to mature trees that can be used to extract paclitaxel in batches, it takes at least seven or eight years. For growers, this undoubtedly increases financial pressure, and at the same time requires growers to have enough patience. "In recent years, I have invested nearly 9 million yuan. Many people jokingly call me a 'madman,' but I have my own plan: cultivate yew seedlings myself and make this industry bigger and stronger."

Regarding yew, Wang Guangwei has long had a business playbook: "Although yew needs to grow for seven or eight years before it can generate economic benefits, as long as it starts being sold on the market, it can make money every year after that. We have already found a sales channel in Yunnan, where a large amount of yew branches are needed to extract paclitaxel." He introduced that as long as they are well managed and protected, nearly 20 kg of branches can be cut from each yew tree. Branches with high paclitaxel content can sell for nearly 16 yuan per kg, and branches with low content can also sell for nearly 5 yuan per kg.

"Look, this newly added group of more than 10,000 yew seedlings was cultivated by me myself, and they are all growing well." Wang Guangwei pointed to the yew trees on the land on the northwest side of the base and introduced them. Wang Guangwei learned pruning and shaping knowledge from the internet and books, and transplanted, pruned, and shaped the yew trees in the field one by one, turning them into sought-after bonsai.

"Recently, I have also been trying hydroponic yew, which is more suitable for home cultivation." Wang Guangwei said that yew products are diverse and have attracted merchants from all over the country to come and place orders. "Yew fruit wine has already found buyers in Yunnan, landscaping trees and bonsai also have a market, and health pillows will also go into production." Wang Guangwei also has a long-term plan, which is to combine his more than 100 mu of yew forest with the beautiful surrounding rural scenery, develop rural tourism, and expand his agricultural territory.