Farmer Shen Genlong introduced the situation of his pear orchard to Zhou Suping, vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC Suzhou New District Committee, on March 29.
Under the organization of the CPPCC Working Committee of Tong'an town, more than 10 party member representatives and resident representatives gathered together to conduct a special consultation and discussion session on improving the quality of Shushan village's Cuiguan pears. They voiced their concerns and discussed the issues encountered during the cultivation process.
Since 2000, Shushan Village has undergone industrial restructuring by planting high-yielding Shushan Cuiguan pears on all of its 1,060 mu (70.67 hectares) of farmland, while preserving the original vegetation. The unique geographical advantages have nurtured delicious Shushan Cuiguan pears, which have obtained national certifications for being pollution-free s. They have also received the Suzhou Fine Fruit Gold Award for many times, alongside Shushan Yunquan tea and Shushan waxberries, which are collectively known as the Three Treasures of Shushan. The pears have gained popularity not only in the city but also in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Currently, the annual yield of Shushan Cuiguan pears remains at around 2 million kilograms, with price ranging from 16 to 24 yuan ($2.23-3.35) per kg, bringing substantial income to local villagers. Leveraging the collective effect of pear orchard, the annual Pear Blossom Cultural Tourism Festival has become a renowned tourism event in Suzhou New District, attracting visitors from all over the world.
However, in the past two years, there have been concerns raised during the council meeting regarding the texture of the Shushan Cuiguan pears. They seem to have become coarser and less tender compared to their initial quality. It is not only the pears but also the issue of pear blossoms. The once pure and stunning white pear blossoms have seen an increase in the growth of green leaves, losing their previous pristine beauty and charm. Party members and resident representatives engaged in discussions to address the challenges and issues in improving the quality of Shushan Cuiguan pears.
In response to the issues with Shushan pears, the CPPCC Working Committee of Tong'an town has taken proactive measures. Upon learning about the situation, they facilitated the involvement of agricultural experts to diagnose the problem. Through on-site inspections and analysis of soil samples, the experts determined that the main reason for the decline in fruit quality was the aging of the Shushan pear trees and excessive absorption of soil nutrients over the years. The prescribed solution consists of two aspects. Firstly, addressing the immediate issue by replacing new tree seedlings, and secondly, addressing the root cause by improving soil structure, regulating soil fertility, and enhancing soil quality. The agricultural experts invited by the CPPCC Suzhou New District Committee also shared their opinions, emphasizing the combination of tree replacement and soil improvement for the best possible outcome.
However, village representatives have raised concerns that reflect the common sentiment among villagers. They worry that the new tree seedlings will require a "growth period," and the enriched soil will need a "resting period." As a result, there may be no Shushan pears produced for three to five years, which would significantly impact the villagers' income. Moreover, if Shushan pears from other regions seize the market during this time, even when the production of Shushan pears in the area stabilizes, the sales may not reach previous levels. Additionally, there will be a shortage of tourists who come to buy pears during this period, and it will take time for the pear blossom landscape to fully recover. These factors will inevitably have a negative impact on Shushan's tourism industry.
The members of the CPPCC Suzhou New District Committee exchanged ideas and addressed the villagers' concerns about improving the quality of Shushan pears. Wu Xuechun, secretary of the general Party branch of Shushan village, believes that avoiding the issue may maintain the current situation temporarily, but it will have a greater impact on the long-term development of Shushan pears as a brand. Therefore, a decisive decision to replace the trees must be made. Wu Chen, a member of the CPPCC Suzhou New District Committee and owner of the Zhuli Mountain Residence homestay in Shushan village, suggests a compromised approach of "phased tree replacement," where one-third of the pear trees are replaced at a time based on each household. This gradual process could be supported by government subsidies, which would likely gain the support of the villagers.
Yang Chunhua, the deputy Party secretary of Tong'an town and director of the CPPCC Working Committee of Tong'an town, attentively recorded everyone's opinions and suggestions. He mentioned that the CPPCC Working Committee of Tong'an town has conducted research and proposed a series of initiatives to promote rural revitalization through the homestay industry and the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. Wen Ting, a member of the CPPCC Suzhou New District Committee and president of Suzhou Qidi Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd., participated in the formulation of action plans and development strategies for Shushan, contributing valuable insights to its development. Recently, the CPPCC Working Committee of Tong'an town established the Consultation Room for Good Discussions at Shushan Jieshi Academy, enabling members to regularly visit Shushan and address concerns at the grassroots level. Yang Chunhua stated, "We will establish and utilize this consultation platform effectively, extending it to grassroots levels such as workshops, communities, and villages, and engaging in discussions with the people. We aim to truly reflect the 'diary of the people' in Tong'an, demonstrating the grassroots CPPCC's commitment to serving the people and adapting to the new era."
Before, the various levels of the CPPCC in Suzhou New District have made efforts to establish Consultation Rooms for Good Discussions, effectively connecting CPPCC consultations with grassroots discussions and achieving significant results in promoting development, benefiting the people, and fostering harmony. Zhou Suping stated, "We will expand and deepen the advantages of this mechanism, create a brand culture for Good Discussions, strengthen the construction of consultation rooms, continuously extend them to the grassroots level, optimize and upgrade them, improve the effectiveness of grassroots consultations, summarize typical experiences and cases, effectively leverage the role of CPPCC as consultation institutions, and contribute to the development of the regional economy and society. We will truly solve practical problems and difficulties for the people and transform the Consultation Rooms for Good Discussions into a 'helping hand' for local authorities, a 'bridge of communication' for the people, and a 'new platform' for CPPCC members' duties."
