Snake gourds harvested in Shanzao Village

Ten farmers were busy harvesting snake gourds (Fructus Trichosanthis) in a planting base of Shanzao Village, Yantouzhai Town, Guzhang County on October 23.

A farmer can pick a truckload of snake gourds in half a day. Snake gourds are transported to the workshop for processing, and snake gourd seeds, an agricultural product for sale, can be got after snake gourds are shelled and dried. Zhang Aijun, a retired soldier, is a large snake gourd grower in the village. Since 2022, he has been engaged in planting snake gourds. Now, the planting area has exceeded 11 hectares, with a total investment of over 400,000 yuan, helping over 30 local farmers to increase their per capita annual income by more than 4,000 yuan.

Due to the high production and good prices of snake gourds this year, Zhang Aijun expects the sales revenue will exceed 500,000 yuan, and on the basis of recovering the investment cost, he can also make a profit of more than 100,000 yuan. According to preliminary statistics, in 2024, more than 13 hectares of snake gourds can be harvested in Shanzao Village, with a seed yield of about 1,500 kilograms per hectare. Calculated at a sales price of 40 yuan per kilogram, snake gourds can achieve a revenue of around 800,000 yuan.

While the snake gourd industry is booming, the local people also interplant tea in the planting base. The 4.5 hectares of tea planted in the snake gourd base is flourishing. While managing snake gourds, villagers can also carry out tea cultivation, save money, and improve land use efficiency and economic output.


Chinese source: hunantoday