Hancheng's 550,000 mu of prickly ash is set for a bumper harvest, becoming a string of coins for farmers to get rich

Recently, with about half a month still to go before the prickly ash ripening and harvesting period, major prickly ash buyers at wholesale markets such as Zhiyang and Xiyuan in Hancheng have begun preparations ahead of schedule for the production and sale of prickly ash. It is understood that prickly ash in Hancheng City has gradually entered its ripening period, with a planting area of 550,000 mu and more than 40 million plants, and output is expected to rise to a new level on the basis of last year's 20 million kg.

The "Hancheng Dahongpao" prickly ash abundantly produced in Hancheng City is renowned nationwide for its "large grains and plump flesh, bright color, rich aroma and moderate numbing taste." Among the 11 Chinese economic forest prickly ash townships in the country's 7 major prickly ash-producing provinces and regions, Hancheng has become the prickly ash production base, sales distribution center and deep-processing base with the largest scale, highest output and best benefits.

It is reported that this year's prickly ash growth is noticeably better than in previous years, not only because of relatively abundant spring rainfall, good soil moisture, and the absence of frost and other natural disasters, which allowed the prickly ash trees to grow well, but also thanks to the city's promotion and application of prickly ash science and technology, as well as support from agricultural industrial structure adjustment and agricultural industry development policies. This year's prickly ash harvest is expected to be one-fifth more than in previous years, and output is expected to rise to a new level on the basis of last year's 20 million kg.

At present, prickly ash planting and production in Hancheng City are advancing in parallel with scientific research and deep processing. Sixteen prickly ash processing enterprises have been established, and more than 20 prickly ash series products, including prickly ash extract, prickly ash powder, prickly ash kernel oil and prickly ash sprout vegetables, have been developed successively. More than 10 national patents have filled gaps in the development of prickly ash products at home and abroad. With the future development of the prickly ash market and the continuous growth of the industry, prickly ash has truly become a "money tree" for increasing farmers' incomes and helping them get rich in the city.