Kaiyang promotes crop rotation to drive rural vitalization

In the picturesque fields of Yantang village in Kaiyang county, Guiyang, a new agricultural landscape is emerging.

Over 100 mu (6.67 hectares) of farmland is now dedicated to an innovative "wheat-tobacco intercropping" system, where verdant tobacco leaves and wheat spikes grow side by side, making more efficient use of land.

The wheat-tobacco intercropping system not only reduces the incidence of tobacco pests and diseases, but also improves soil structure and increases fertilizer efficiency, noted a local agricultural expert.

Kong Wei, a young professional tobacco farmer from the county's Nanmudu town, has embraced the practice. This year, he planted 70 mu of wheat-tobacco crops. "Each mu yields 20 percent more income compared to planting tobacco alone. I expect to increase my net income by about 60,000 yuan ($8,503.98) this year," he said with a smile.

Guiyang tobacco authorities have implemented a raft of measures, including establishing a mechanism that includes subsidies for farmers who plant wheat-tobacco crops, to encourage more farmers to adopt the system.

Additionally, they are helping farmers connect with nearby noodle processing factories to secure a market for their wheat, ensuring that farmers can confidently adopt this new method.

Another innovative practice in the county is the "tobacco-rice rotation", which involves planting tobacco one year and rice the next, allowing the land to self-repair and protecting arable resources.

This innovative approach to agriculture not only enhances the efficiency of land use but also significantly contributes to the local economy and rural vitalization, according to authorities.