In April of this year, after learning about the development situation of Guzhang County’s gardenia industry with Ningxiang City’s targeted help, Wang Mingqing, Party secretary of Zimu Village of Yantouzhai Town, planned to develop the “white plus green” industry.
Zhang Yuanzhong is a representative inheritor of Guzhang Maojian Tea making techniques who can contribute a lot to the development of the “white and green” industry. On November 10, a ceremony was held in Zimu Village to pass down and innovate the tradition of tea making skills.
“Gardenia seedlings planted this year are not enough. The economic benefits of 600 mu (40 hectares) of tea in the village can be reaped with the increase of gardenia planting area, and the flower tea industry has great potential,” said Wang Mingqing who is full of confidence in the industrial development of Zimu Village.
The flower tea industry in Zimu Village is developing, while the chili industry is thriving.
“Since the introduction of ‘Red Pepper 998’, idle land in the village has been efficiently utilized, and idle labor has been employed nearby. There are chili enterprises to provide seedlings and purchase chili peppers,” said Song Linlin, first secretary stationed in Zimu Village, who is full of hope for the prospects of the chili industry. Since the beginning of this year, Zimu Village has focused on the development of the chili industry and sought cooperation with high-quality chili cooperatives.
The village has produced over 50,000 kilograms of red chili peppers by transferring 100 mu (about 6.67 hectares) of idle land, with over 20,000 yuan of village collective economic income and an average increase of over 4,000 yuan for more than 50 households in Zimu Village. Chili peppers have become a new pivot for Zimu Village to promote the development of the village collective economy and help farmers increase their income.
Guzhang County is known as the “hometown of famous tea”. Nearly 70% of the agricultural population in the county is directly or indirectly engaged in the tea industry. 80% of agricultural income comes from tea, and tea is planted in 90% of villages in the county. The tea industry greatly influences the county’s economic development.
Based on the advantages of local tea resources, Yantouzhai Town has launched the Wilderness Series black tea with Ding Defu, a tea master from Taiwan, which has been well received in the market.
“The black tea series products have improved the utilization rate of tea, and expanded the sales channels of tea products, making the lives of villagers better,” said Liu Shujuan, Party secretary of Modaoyan Village of the town, where the tea industry has developed rapidly.
In the early 1970s, Shanzao Village had a large tea plantation of over 1,000 mu (about 66.67 hectares), laying a solid foundation for the development of the tea industry.
In 2005, Wu Daimei, former Party secretary of the village, vigorously developed the Qishujie tea garden. The village has built industrial roads, photovoltaic power stations, modern tea processing plants, etc., accelerating the development of the tea industry.
On November 17, more than 10 selected students from the whole county came to Haogenping Village to investigate the morel industry.
With “Xiangye No.1”, the planting cost per mu (about 0.067 hectares) of morel mushrooms decreased by 1,500 yuan, helping 24 households in the village to achieve an average income increase of more than 5,000 yuan.
“The morel mushrooms from the deep mountains in Xiangxi Prefecture have gradually become a delicacy among teachers and students of Hunan University of Technology and Business,” said Huang Chao, captain of the resident working team in Haogenping Village, adding that more than 450 kilograms of dried morel mushrooms in Haogenping Village are sold to schools every year.
With abundant natural resources, profound cultural heritage, and promising development prospects, Yantouzhai Town will make efforts to innovate products, improve its brand, and expand its market to revitalize the town’s economy by relying on local specialty industries.
