Sweet tea seedlings obtain national patent, 70-something farmer Zhao Shengchi succeeds in cultivating them

Zhao Shengchi, 72, is an ordinary farmer from Shushan Village, Chigu Township, Anfu County. More than 10 years ago, he rescued and protected the only remaining 2,000-plus wild rare woody plants of the "Duisuike" sweet tea tree (Lithocarpus polystachyus) in the area. After more than 3 years of research and trial cuttings, he succeeded in cultivating sweet tea seedlings, not only obtaining a national patent but also overcoming a worldwide technical challenge, making him a local celebrity for a time. Recently, the sweet tea seedlings he successfully cultivated reached a survival rate of 80%, providing physical material for developing a new tea source.

Devoting himself to researching and cultivating sweet tea seedlings

Zhao Shengchi, who has been engaged in flower and seedling cultivation for many years, consulted a large amount of material and carefully studied the growth habits of Lithocarpus polystachyus, concluding that the market potential for developing Duisuike sweet tea is huge. In Huangtun Village, Chigu Township, there are two Duisuike sweet tea trees over 20 m tall with a diameter at breast height of 1 m. In 2003, the tea produced by these two trees sold for more than 20 yuan per kg. "With approval from the forestry bureau, I bought back the stumps they had cut down, planted them in the field as mother stock, and then developed sweet tea seedlings from them." Zhao Shengchi told reporters that it was precisely by relying on these 2,000-plus sweet tea tree mother stock plants that, after years of experimentation, he successfully cultivated sweet tea seedlings through cuttings, and according to appraisal by forestry technicians, the survival rate of these sweet tea seedlings reached as high as 80%. Zhao Shengchi thus obtained a national patent. At present, the 50,000 Lithocarpus polystachyus sweet tea seedlings cultivated in Zhao Shengchi's greenhouse are growing promisingly.

Successful promotion drives the masses to prosperity

Zhao Shengchi did the math for reporters: "With an output of 150 kg per mu and 50 yuan per jin, after deducting management costs, there should be 8,000 yuan in pure profit." Because Chigu Township is rich in resources for developing Duisuike sweet tea and has a relatively good production environment, the masses are highly motivated, and the industry has broad development prospects; Zhao Shengchi is also full of expectations for this. At present, the area has made the Duisuike sweet tea industry a distinctive poverty-alleviation industry, with Shushan Village as a pilot, and is also negotiating cooperation with a businessman from elsewhere. It is expected that more than 500 mu of sweet tea area can be added this year, and a corresponding professional cooperative will be established.