The cultivation of tangerines in Qingyuan county is providing a lot of work opportunities for local farmers. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Introduced from Japan in 1998, the cultivation of tangerines in Qingyuan county – administered by Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – has gradually developed from a modest local fruit-producing venture into a vibrant emerging industry that is promoting the area's overall rural revitalization.

Nowadays, the revenue per hectare can be as high as 150,000 yuan ($23,576) and the output value per hectare is among the highest of crops currently grown in Qingyuan.

Established in 2013 and located in Qingyuan's Guanshantou village, the Lancheng tangerine production farm is also a practical training facility, teaching cultivation techniques, production and marketing and pest and disease control, among other things.

It also provides a lot of work opportunities for local farm hands. Ouyang Qiqi, who is in charge, said it needs to employ around 80 in the harvesting season and the total wage bill can reach 1 million yuan a year.

Following the successful development of the tangerine industry, the producers are now looking to boost their brand competitiveness. Qingyuan is focusing on cultivating its brand and integrating the private brands of tangerine enterprises and farmers' cooperatives – combining agriculture with tourism and promoting the construction of demonstration bases for integrated agricultural tourism.

To top it off, some producers in Qingyuan have obtained certification for what's known as Chinese Good Agricultural Practice, or GAP. This marks the first step in their path to entering international markets and the future is said to be promising.