Novel technologies empower strawberry cultivation

The Qianfeng Ecological Agriculture Park. [Photo/Guiyang Daily]

Strawberries in the greenhouse in Qianfeng Ecological Agriculture Park in Shiban town, Huaxi district are expected to ripen in the next half month.

Qiu Tuan, the person in charge of Qianfeng Ecological Agriculture Park, stated that unlike traditional soil cultivation, the agricultural park adopts an "elevated" planting method, where strawberries are grown on racks one meter above the ground. Strawberries grown in this manner have a better taste, and the harvesting process is easier as it does not require bending down.

The agricultural park has planted 20 mu (1.33 hectares) of strawberries, with an expected yield of about 1,500 kilograms per mu, which would generate an income of around 60,000 yuan ($8,382).

New technologies have transformed the cultivation methods of strawberries and reshaped the industry. Currently, with the support of customized water and fertilizer formulas and an intelligent temperature monitoring system, the entire process of strawberry cultivation in the park is managed through automation and data. Seizing new business opportunities, Qiu has transformed the park into a picking experience park, attracting a considerable number of visitors.

Modern and efficient agriculture has also increased the income of the surrounding villagers. Qiu mentioned that more than 30 workers in the park come from nearby villages, earning over 3,000 yuan in monthly wages. In addition to providing annual welfare items and bonuses, the park also offers employment training, enabling farmers to acquire new skills.