At Jianghuai Horticulture Seeds Co., Ltd.'s breeding base in Potou, Zhanjiang, south China's Guangdong Province, staff members are busy preparing for the cultivation of seedlings such as pumpkins, peppers, watermelons, and zucchinis, which make their way to farmlands in Southeast Asia.
Chen Chaowu, the base director, explained that Potou District experiences a tropical northern marginal monsoon climate, with warm weather and abundant sunshine all year round, which can shorten the breeding cycle by 30%. More importantly, Zhanjiang has a unique geographical advantage as it is adjacent to ASEAN countries, making it easier to promote new varieties, expand markets, and facilitate the local seed industry in going global.
Today, the base is not only a key scientific research and demonstration site for the company but also an important driver for upgrading local agriculture and increasing farmers' incomes. Starting from an experimental field of 17.3 hectares, the base has now helped increase the annual income of surrounding farmers by over one million yuan. "Every year, the base attracts more than 5,000 merchants from across China and ASEAN countries to visit and purchase seeds," said Chen Chaowu.
Reporter & Photo | Yang Zhengmin
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
