Garlic industry targets the market to make poverty alleviation and prosperity more precise

In the New Year, Daxishao Village bid farewell to its former silence and began a busyness unlike the past. The villagers were full of energy, whether in greenhouses or at the farmers' market, starting a new year of striving. Through nearly two years of effort, this poor village located in Wangjiazhuang Subdistrict, Xiashan District, accurately assessed the market and planted garlic and garlic sprouts on a large scale, achieving poverty alleviation and prosperity.

"Last year, our village earned 1.2 million yuan from garlic sprouts alone." In the greenhouse, villager Ma Jie, busy harvesting garlic sprouts, told reporters that in the past they only knew how to grow grain, lacked industry and technical support, and had long been below the poverty line. Under the guidance of motivated people and relevant departments, this village shifted to developing vegetable cultivation, focusing on garlic and garlic sprouts, and became a well-known specialized planting village.

"The main customers are from Shouguang, Anqiu, and Jiaozhou. They come on time every afternoon, and several thousand kilograms are sold every day. Moreover, the cooperative uses unified planting and management, so yield and quality are guaranteed." Zhai Tianbin was the first farmer in the village to grow garlic sprouts. Five years ago, while engaged in the business of purchasing agricultural products, he discovered a business opportunity, changed careers to grow garlic sprouts, succeeded on his first try, and was the first to become prosperous. He has now built 6 greenhouses.

With a model to lead the way, the villagers also had a direction to try. Driven by Zhai Tianbin, more than 30 households in the village successively began growing garlic sprouts. According to market needs, they established the Yuetao Fruit and Vegetable Professional Cooperative, building a complete supporting guidance and service system across the entire process from garlic procurement, seedling cultivation, technology, equipment purchase, to sales, developing together as a group and forming a garlic sprout planting boom centered on Xishao Village and radiating to multiple surrounding villages.

"During the growth of garlic sprouts, they must not be exposed to light, and energy-saving lamps must be used for lighting work, otherwise they will change color and the price will be halved. Also, they must be ventilated in time, waste materials removed, and humidity and temperature maintained, ensuring the temperature is between 15 and 18 degrees, otherwise the growth of garlic sprouts will be greatly affected. The best price is for garlic sprouts grown to about 45 to 50 cm..." When talking about the tricks of growing garlic sprouts, Zhai Tianbin opened up. He told reporters that the cooperative provides technical guidance to members. New members can directly consult them about any technical problems, and they also conduct regular training, with services directly reaching the fields. Affected by the good natural environment, the garlic sprouts here are of good quality and high yield, and are deeply welcomed by the market.

The success of garlic sprout cultivation also drove the surrounding garlic planting. Of the more than 300 households in the village, every household now grows garlic, and each mu can produce more than 2 tons. In 2015, through garlic cultivation, each household increased income by more than 10,000 yuan. "In addition to growing garlic, we can also work at the cooperative, transporting garlic seedlings and cleaning garlic residue, and can earn 2,500 yuan a month." Villager Li Xiuqin said happily that she is now a "dual-income worker."