Waxberry (Chinese bayberry) yields increase by 30% after being covered with insect-proof nets

In Zhantang Village, Yuanqiao Town, Huangyan District, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, white mosquito nets dot the hillsides, and inside the tents are waxberry trees laden with fruit. After an on-site inspection, experts concluded that the mosquito net technique for waxberry, pioneered by this village, has increased yields, improved quality and doubled profits.

On June 28, the Zhejiang Provincial On-site Meeting on Waxberry Quality and Safety Technology was held in this small mountain village. "Mosquito net waxberries" drew fruit tree experts and scholars from across Zhejiang Province, as well as forestry and specialty technology extension officials from 15 major waxberry-producing counties, cities and districts across the province. Everyone wanted to find out: why put mosquito nets over waxberries? Can quality and yield really be improved?

It is understood that during the ripening period, waxberries suffer heavy damage from fruit flies, which causes the fruit to rot. Traditional chemical control is very ineffective and seriously affects the safety of the fruit for consumption. In 2011, experts from the Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Huangyan District Fruit Tree Technology Extension Station came to Zhantang Village and, together with fruit growers, developed the mosquito net technique for waxberry, also known as the "curtain net waxberry cultivation technique."

Practice has shown that using the curtain net cultivation technique not only effectively blocks fruit fly damage and keeps the fruit away from pesticide contamination, and reduces the impact of adverse weather such as strong winds, continuous rain and high temperatures on waxberry fruit, but also increases the rate of high-quality waxberries by more than 20%, raises yields by about 30%, increases selling prices by more than 50%, and doubles income.

Fruit grower Chen Chunfu said that this year waxberries can sell for 80 yuan per jin, and demand still exceeds supply, while waxberries not grown under mosquito nets can only sell for 20 to 30 yuan.

Is the cost of putting up mosquito nets worthwhile? According to the fruit growers, the average cost of one mosquito net is about 320 yuan, but it can be used for 5 to 7 years, and the government subsidizes 100 yuan for each net, so in terms of cost-effectiveness it is very worthwhile.