The kiwi planting base in Dayang village, Da'an township, Taishun county. [Photo by the Publicity Department of the CPC Taishun County Committee/66wz.com]
Taishun, a county in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, has found success by planting kiwis, due to its suitable natural environment.
"The county started growing kiwis in 1983, but it faced serious problems like low yield and poor quality," said Xu Yongping, a staff member at the local natural resources and planning bureau.
In 2015, the Taishun county government cooperated with Shu Huairui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Wuhan Botanical Garden on kiwi industry planning, talent introduction, variety breeding, as well as technological upgrading.
Statistics show that the cultivated areas of high-quality new kiwi varieties, including Green Jade kiwi, currently total 14,000 mu (933.33 hectares) and that per mu also has produced an additional 500 kilograms.
"For growers, the economical benefits are considerable," said Zhang Qingchao, another staff member at the local natural resources and planning bureau. "For example, 20 hectares of kiwis can generate 400,000 yuan ($62,000) or so in output per year."
Zhang noted that it is only the fourth year that kiwi growers have been able to enjoy these benefits and it does discourage many potential growers.
As a result, Taishun county has decided to offer subsidies to kiwi growers, including 4,200 yuan per mu for those who plant 5 mu or above of kiwis, 5,000 yuan pr mu for those who breed kiwi seedlings, as well as subsidies equivalent to 70 percent of the investment in digital transformation.
Currently, Taishun houses nearly 200 kiwi-growing cooperatives and family farms, as well as more than 70 companies processing and marketing kiwis.
"Our target is that by 2025, the cultivated areas of kiwi in Taishun will exceed 20,000 mu, with an annual yield of more than 30,000 tons and sales revenue of 300 million yuan," said Xia Liangjin, a staff member at the local agriculture and rural affairs bureau.
He added that the kiwi industry is expected to offer more than 10,000 jobs and that a complete kiwi industrial chain will take shape by then.
Kiwi tree branches are laden with fruit. [Photo by the Publicity Department of the CPC Taishun County Committee/66wz.com]
