Plant passion fruit and make money in 180 days, turning it into a fruit of prosperity

The fruit seedlings bear fruit after being planted for just over 180 days, basically recouping the investment cost... Liu Zhiming, a 42-year-old fruit farmer from Henghe Town, Boluo, grows passion fruit in Gudong Village, Baitang Town in the same county. He planted it in early April this year, and by early October the fruit was ready and on the market. Besides wholesale and retail, the passion fruit also attracts many visitors who come to taste it. Now, Liu Zhiming's passion fruit is in short supply, and his initial investment cost has basically been recouped.

Finding a business opportunity while shopping in a supermarket

A few days ago, the reporter drove to Gudong Village, Baitang Town, Boluo County, and followed the winding village road to reach Liu Zhiming's passion fruit farm. On the way into the farm, self-driving tour cars kept driving in. Inside the farm, visitors were either taking photos under the trellis or picking fruit with baskets in hand.

Everyone may be familiar with passion fruit. Many villagers like to plant one or two in their own yards so they can taste that sweet-and-sour flavor when the fruit ripens. Passion fruit is very common, but growing it on a large scale and running it as a prosperity industry is not common in Boluo or even Huizhou.

Why did Liu Zhiming catch this business opportunity? As early as 10 years ago, Liu Zhiming had already invested in growing fruit trees in Gudong Village, and at that time he grew citrus. In recent years, troubled by huanglongbing, all the citrus "fell ill," and he had no choice but to cut down all the citrus trees. Land infected with huanglongbing could no longer be used to grow citrus, so what should he plant? Liu Zhiming was very worried.

Last year, he went out traveling to relax. "Isn't this the passion fruit from my hometown?" While strolling in a supermarket in Shenzhen, the passion fruit on display immediately caught his attention. He immediately took out his phone and searched online, and found that passion fruit is also called baixiangguo, a health fruit recommended by many people, containing a variety of elements beneficial to the human body. Aren't health preservation and healthcare the hottest topics nowadays? His thinking suddenly opened up.

Teaching villagers how to grow it without reservation

After returning home, Liu Zhiming immediately discussed with friends the matter of growing passion fruit and decided to introduce the Taiwan No. 1 variety. When the fruit seedlings were first bought back, they were only as long as chopsticks. After planting them, Liu Zhiming guarded the orchard every day. When the seedlings sprouted new growth, he had to remove the useless shoots each time until the seedlings reached the trellis. "At that time, I was busy in the field almost every day, so tired I could hardly straighten my back," Liu Zhiming said. Watching the fruit trees grow day by day made him very comforted, especially after the seedlings reached the trellis, which made him even happier. On October 1, a small amount of passion fruit went on the market.

Some people grow passion fruit at home and still get no fruit after 3 years, while Liu Zhiming harvested fruit after just over 180 days. Where is the secret? "The key lies in the variety and the technique. During the seedling growth period, good care work must be done. This is very important," Liu Zhiming said. After the passion fruit matured, some nearby villagers were also attracted, and they hoped to grow it together with Liu Zhiming. In response, Liu Zhiming taught them the growing methods without reservation, provided fruit seedlings, and also helped them sell the fruit.

Wanting to develop beverages to expand sales channels

Through the sales network built when growing citrus, Liu Zhiming quickly found a market for his passion fruit. At present, depending on the quality, the wholesale price of passion fruit is 6 to 8 yuan per kg. Apart from February to June, when it does not bear fruit, passion fruit can be picked at other times. "Look, there are still flowers on the vines now," Liu Zhiming said. "One mu of passion fruit can produce 1,500 to 2,500 kg. One mu costs several thousand yuan, and it can pay back in one year, with a slight surplus." At present, in addition to Liu Zhiming's nearly 300 mu of passion fruit, farmers elsewhere have also planted 200 to 300 mu.

Besides selling fresh fruit, Liu Zhiming also hopes to seek partners to jointly process and develop passion fruit beverages.

At present, rural tourism in Boluo is developing vigorously. Liu Zhiming has launched a pick-your-own orchard experience activity, turning agricultural products into tourism products and raising the grade and economic benefits of passion fruit.

Our reporter Li Yanwen, correspondent Gao Huiliang