All parts of golden cypresses are valuable. Its bark, trunks, and leaves can all be used as medicine. Currently, dry bark is sold at around 22 yuan per kilograms on the market.
In recent years, Xixi Town in Luxi County has promoted the cultivation of traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as golden cypresses, Huangjing, rosemary, and Artemisia annua based on local conditions to boost villagers’ income.
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Through experiments conducted by researchers from the Hunan Academy of Forestry and the Hunan Forestry Characteristic Bioelement Engineering Technology Research Center, the Chinese herbals produced here have extremely high medicinal and edible value.
Huangjing and golden cypresses, with a moderate growth cycle and relatively simple management, are suitable Chinese medicinal herbs which can be planted by middle-aged and elderly idle laborers in the village.
At present, the village has planted an area of more than 2,500 mu (about 166.67 hectares) of Chinese medicinal herbals, with more than 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of golden cypresses, 300 mu (20 hectares) of Huangjing, 100 mu (6.67 hectares) of rosemary, and over 600 mu (40 hectares) of Artemisia annua.
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“A comprehensive processing plant for agricultural and sideline products has been established in the village and will be put into use this month,” said Xiang Shaoqi, Party secretary of the village.
In order to further promote the deep development of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb industry, the village is accelerating the construction of an industry chain for the deep processing of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and expanding it into the grain and oil field to open up new ways for the village collective economy to increase income.
The Golden Land Traditional Chinese Medicinal Herb Cooperative plays a leading role in the development of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb industry in Sanjiaotan Village.
In recent years, with a model of “company plus cooperative plus base plus farmer”, the cooperative has optimized their industrial chain, and made it cover the entire process including planting, purchasing, and processing, which has enriched the industrial structure of the village and offered a large number of job opportunities to villagers.
“This year, I planted 800 golden cypresses and also interplanted tea trees. One golden cypresses can earn me up to 200 yuan after growing up,” said a villager. He began to plant golden cypresses in the village in 2016 and has achieved poverty alleviation through the cultivation of medicinal materials.
With the development of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb industry, the collective income of the village has reached over 400,000 yuan, and the income of each household planting herbs has exceeded 10,000 yuan.
With the strong support of the government of Xixi Town, the traditional Chinese medicinal herb industry in Sanjiaotan Village has become a strong engine for local economic development and driven farmers in surrounding villages to cultivate over 3,000 mu (200 hectares) of herbs, promoting the vigorous development of the herb industry in the entire town.
Agricultural technicians have regularly been assigned to conduct technical training and provide guidance services in the fields, providing solid technical support for the improvement and expansion of the herb industry. At the same time, cooperatives are encouraged to work with research institutions, universities, and others to jointly explore the improvement and deep processing technologies of herb varieties, injecting innovative vitality into the sustainable development of the industry.