Zhuotongjing's Small Nectarines Open the Door to Prosperity Through Specialty Agriculture
In recent years, Zhuotongjing Town in Daying County has vigorously developed the nectarine industry. The nectarine bases already established in the town cover 8 villages including Sanxing, Wujiaqiao, Shima, Anle, Weiganping, Xujin, Deqian and Huaihua, benefiting a population of about 10,000. From former traditional villages to today's "Peach Blossom Villages," villagers are realizing their "dream of prosperity" right at their doorsteps.
"Suddenly he came upon a grove of peach trees in blossom. They lined the banks for several hundred paces; among them were no other kinds of trees. The fragrant grass was fresh and beautiful, and fallen blossoms were scattered in profusion." It is just the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers, and the delicate peach blossoms adorn the hillsides of Zhuotongjing Town in Daying County. 8,000 mu of peach blossoms are blooming in competition, clusters of flowers brilliantly red against the sky. Beneath the peach groves, field paths crisscross, and cocks crow and dogs bark within hearing of one another. This peaceful and vibrant scene enacts a real-life version of the Record of the Peach Blossom Spring.
Since the industry began development in 2006, Zhuotongjing Town, through developing the nectarine industry, has attracted nearly 1,000 migrant workers to return home to grow peaches.
Small Nectarines Fetch a Good Price
Villagers Working Away Take Flights Home to Sell Nectarines
"What would you like to eat? Liangfen? Or cold noodles?" On March 13, peach blossoms covering the hills and fields dressed Weiganping Village like a fairyland. On a village road, villager Xiao Yilan was busy selling snacks. Ever since the peach blossoms bloomed, Xiao Yilan had opened a snack shop at home.
"Yesterday I sold seven or eight hundred at home. Today I specially set up my stall on the road, thinking that with more people coming to see the flowers, there would be more customers. See, that's my home." Following the direction of Xiao Yilan's finger, a small Western-style building hung with four big red lanterns appeared before the reporter's eyes.
Three years ago, Xiao Yilan, who had been working in Guangdong, returned to her hometown. On the family's nearly 3 mu of land, the peach trees planted earlier had already reached their fruiting period. Since then, Xiao Yilan has stayed in her hometown. She said with a smile: "Last year the peaches sold for more than 20,000 yuan. The buyer's truck drove right up to our door. We never worry about selling our peaches. Now I don't go out to work anymore."
In Zhuotongjing, the small peach radiates enormous charm for gaining prosperity. Some villagers even take flights home to pick peaches.
In July 2015, Jiang Shaobing, who was working far away in Fujian, took a plane home with his wife to pick peaches. "All 5 mu of the family's land is planted with peach trees. Usually the elderly look after them, but when the picking season comes, we need to come back and help." Speaking by phone about taking flights to pick peaches, Jiang Shaobing considered it well worthwhile. Last year, the family earned more than 40,000 yuan from selling peaches alone, far exceeding the price of the plane tickets.
In 2006, Zhuotongjing led farmers to develop the nectarine industry and established the Cuikouxiang Nectarine Professional Cooperative, guiding villagers to develop nectarine cultivation through a "cooperative + base + farmers" approach.
Dai Jun, deputy mayor of Zhuotongjing Town, told reporters that in 2015 the total output of nectarines was 3,200 tons, with a net income of 14 million yuan. Fruit farmers saw a per capita income increase of more than 1,500 yuan, with per capita income growth in the main production areas reaching 2,755 yuan, and the highest annual income for a single fruit-farming household reaching 100,000 yuan. The nectarine industry has become the town's pillar industry and an important support for farmers to increase income and achieve prosperity.
The "Nectarine Effect" Continues to Ferment
"Specialty Agriculture Plus" Builds More Platforms for Returning Home to Start Businesses
As the earliest mountain village to develop the nectarine industry, Sanxing Village today has nectarine trees planted in every household. The peach groves have beautified the countryside and also brought new business opportunities to the village.
"Deputy Mayor Dai, what do you think about me opening a rural guesthouse at home?" Dan Guangbing, a villager from Sanxing Village, excitedly stopped Dai Jun, who had come to the village to conduct a survey. Dan Guangbing's home sits beside the village road. A two-story building plus a spacious courtyard make it very suitable for developing a rural guesthouse.
"Sure, you make a more detailed plan, and we'll help you with the planning." Hearing Dan Guangbing's idea, Dai Jun was very happy. He told reporters that in addition to nectarines, Zhuotongjing has also introduced varieties such as Chunxue, Chunmei, Zaochun, Xiahui No. 6, and American California Early Sweet. The long flowering period and early market availability give Zhuotongjing's peach trees a clear advantage compared with surrounding areas. This has also attracted many citizens who come to admire the flowers and pick peaches, and the time has come to develop rural tourism.
Dan Guangbing's idea coincided exactly with the industrial planning of the Zhuotongjing Party Committee and Government. Combining with the town's Happy and Beautiful New Village plan, strengthening and optimizing the existing characteristic and advantageous industries, and striving to take the path of "agriculture + tourism" has become the town's next goal. The town will focus on introducing entrepreneurs in villages such as Sanxing, Anle and Weiganping to open rural guesthouses, family inns and family farms, develop rice-field fish farming, lotus roots and under-forest chicken raising, and provide opportunities for migrant workers to return home and start businesses. Drawing on the thousand-mu peach blossom garden, it will strive to build bases for photography and sketching, continuously expand the fame of Zhuotongjing nectarines, and attract tourists from all over to experience rural tourism.