Jiangxi Ji'an Xiajiang: Specialty Fruit Industry Helps Farmers Increase Income and Prosper

Li Aizhen, from Yishan Village, Jinping Ethnic Township, Xiajiang County, is 47 years old this year and runs a specialty fruit industry base together with her husband and children, living a happy and fulfilling life. Today, her family has 1500 mu of demonstration orchards with various fruit tree varieties, 350 mu of contiguous nursery plots, an annual output of more than 2000 tons of various fruits, and more than 3 million seedlings of various types shipped out from the nursery each year. She was once rated by the Ministry of Agriculture of China as a "National Demonstration Cooperative of Farmers' Professional Cooperatives" and by the Municipal Women's Federation as a "Ji'an City Women's Tree Planting and Greening Protection Demonstration Household." Last year, her family also received the title of "Green Family" in Jiangxi Province.

"Actually, at the beginning, when it came to fruit tree cultivation, I could be called a 'layman' and knew nothing about it at all. But the first step is always the hardest. I secretly made up my mind that no matter how difficult it was, I would still give it a try." Li Aizhen told reporters that at the start of her business, in order to thoroughly and expertly learn fruit tree planting techniques, she repeatedly studied the fruit industry technical publications she subscribed to. During this period, she made multiple trips to Jiangxi Agricultural University, the Ganzhou Fruit Industry Research Institute, and other places to "seek guidance," enabling her planting techniques to develop from nothing to something, and from something to mastery.

After years of repeated experimental research, Li Aizhen mastered the complete set of techniques for grafting, management, and high-yield production of improved American pecan varieties. In 2003, the survival rate of grafted trees reached more than 90%, and the yield per mu reached 245 kg, with the output and technology leading domestically. This single technique alone won the second prize of the Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award and the third prize of the Provincial Technical Improvement Award, and also obtained a national patent, causing a sensation in surrounding areas and even across the country. More than 10 provinces had large-scale specialized households contact her successively to request introduction of the variety. The early-maturing pears she carefully cultivated are thin-skinned, crisp-fleshed, and sweet, deeply loved by consumers. They were rated as high-quality early-maturing pears by the Ministry of Agriculture and won the gold award in the province-wide "Fuwei Cup" early-maturing pear evaluation. At present, the area planted with high-quality early-maturing pears has reached more than 6000 mu.

"Our whole family now puts all our energy into fruit industry cultivation. Over these years, we have gradually gained planting experience and become more adept at it. Therefore, we also actively encourage surrounding villagers to develop the specialty fruit industry together to achieve the goal of increasing income." Li Aizhen told reporters that she treats the improved fruit tree variety demonstration base she founded herself as a radiating point for the promotion of new fruit tree technologies and new varieties, introducing the development prospects of the fruit industry to the people who come to observe and learn, and teaching fruit tree cultivation techniques hand by hand. In 2008, Li Aizhen initiated the establishment of the Xiajiang Jinping Lufeng Fruit Industry Cooperative, which has successively absorbed members from Xiajiang, Jishui, Yongfeng, Xingan, Zhangshu, Xinyu, and many other places, planted more than 12,000 mu of fruit trees, and established a fruit seedling breeding base of more than 300 mu. In 2015, the cooperative achieved sales revenue of more than 10 million yuan, and member households earned 55,000 yuan in income.