Selenium-enriched crop cultivation helps build prosperity in the new countryside
As the level of modern agricultural development continues to rise, not only organic vegetables but also selenium-enriched products have gradually entered our lives, and along with them have come healthy, green concepts of diet and living.
In the Tongwang Modern Science and Technology Agriculture Demonstration Park in Heli Village, Chengdong Township, Tiedong District, Siping City, Jilin Province, the air is filled with the fragrance of fruits and vegetables and butterflies flutter about, presenting a scene of abundant harvest. In leading farmers to prosperity, the demonstration park has played a leading role.
“Our rapeseed is selenium-enriched organic vegetable, very different from what is sold on the market. What is sold on the market has pesticide and fertilizer residues, but we use organic fertilizer here, and our rapeseed has now gone to seed. This lettuce is cockscomb lettuce, which looks as beautiful as a flower and tastes very good, better than green lettuce. Here purple lettuce sells the best, city residents like it quite a lot, and it is very delicious.” said Zheng Guixi, manager of the demonstration park.
Jilin Tongwang Modern Science and Technology Agriculture Development Group was established in January this year. Taking advantage of Siping's geographical and transportation advantages, they established a production demonstration base for developing modern science and technology agriculture, green ecological agriculture and organic agricultural products, covering an area of 519,000 sq m, with crop planting areas, picking and sightseeing areas, food service areas, and more. The Tongwang Farmers' Professional Cooperative Union established along with it, relying on the technical support of the Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, broke through and integrated agriculture, rural areas and farmers resources, and absorbed more than 200 members from 19 cooperatives near and far. Everything planted in the park is organic and selenium-enriched crops.
Fu Jiang, general manager of the demonstration park, said: “We have 16 varieties here, with all kinds of grains and miscellaneous cereals, including the cultivation of English broad beans, also known by another name, English Red. After this crop matures, it is a staple food for Westerners, and it is eaten in countries including Saudi Arabia, Germany and the United Kingdom. There is also red millet, which is mainly exported to Japan and South Korea.”
Sun Jiaxiang, an agronomist at the demonstration park, told this writer that in order to ensure the green, healthy and safe nature of the crops, no chemical fertilizer is used on the crops in the park at all, only organic fertilizer. By applying selenium-enriched organic fertilizer to improve soil composition, and without spraying pesticides, butterflies can be seen flying above the vegetable leaves. Biological control methods are used to eliminate pests and diseases in fruits and vegetables, ensuring the safety of food that enters the mouth. Tourists and farmers who come to the demonstration park to discuss business or inspect projects can pick fruits and vegetables and eat them directly.
The Tongwang Farmers' Professional Cooperative Union has set its sights on the production of pollution-free agricultural crops with large potential demand and on modern agricultural sightseeing projects, integrating resources, serving society, putting green organic food on the tables of urban and rural residents, and also providing a stable job for farmers on the urban-rural fringe.
“Next, we plan to use the cooperative model to organize all members of the cooperative together, change farming methods through technical training, and lead everyone onto a healthy path. The purpose of promotion is to drive farmers to prosperity.” Fu Jiang said.
Wang Miao, excerpted from "Siping Daily"