Chive industry galvanizes rural development

Farmers wash chives. [Photo/Guiyang Daily]

Qiantao township in Huaxi district, a base for the chive industry, has been cultivating chives for over 20 years, with a planting area exceeding 4,000 mu (266.67 hectares). Chives account for a significant portion of the market in Guiyang, making it one of the leading industries in increasing the incomes of farmers and driving rural vitalization.

In the past, most villagers in Qiantao focused on cultivating traditional crops such as corn and rice, resulting in relatively low land yields. Later, some residents of the township's Qilong village experimented with the cultivation of chives. The chives they grew were characterized by an appealing color, thick outer layers, and a strong aroma, quickly gaining popularity. After several research efforts, the township decided to encourage residents in various villages to engage in chive cultivation.

With government support, the chive industry in Qiantao has expanded significantly, growing from an initial size of a few dozen mu to several hundred mu. Today, it has surpassed a scale of 4,000 mu. The district's agricultural investment company plans to establish a new chive base covering over 1,000 mu in the township. Upon completion, the total chive cultivation area in the entire township is expected to exceed 5,100 mu.

In the second half of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released the second 2023 national list of outstanding new agricultural products, which included Qiantao chives.

To continuously enhance the industrial development vitality of Qiantao chives, the local government has taken proactive measures. Qiantao township, focusing on chive sales channels and brand marketing, has registered the "Qiantaoxiang" brand to further elevate the brand value of Qiantao chives.

As the agricultural industry develops, Qiantao township has adapted to its local conditions and gradually established a crop rotation model in which one season of rice or ginger cultivation is followed by two seasons of chive cultivation.

The adoption of scientific and efficient cultivation methods has maximized land utilization and steadily increased the incomes of Qiantao residents.