Cocoon harvest underway in Tai'an city

Cocoon harvesters were busy selling their harvest to the cocoon station at Zhuyang town in Daiyue district of Tai'an city, in East China's Shandong province on June 2.

According to Jiang Huanming, a local farmer, the harvest has been especially good this year.

A main cocoon production area in Tai'an city, Zhuyang town has a long history of cultivating cocoons, which have brought local farmers prosperity.

A harvester is proudly showing off cocoons. [Photo by Sui Xiang provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhao Xingkui, a local cocoon farmer, said he can earn between 50,000 ($7,002) and 60,000 yuan from his mulberry field that spans 20 mu (1.33 hectares).

The mulberry field in Zhuyang town occupies an area of over 1, 700 mu and there are presently 818 households that farm cocoons.

Zhuyang town is expected to distribute 6,000 cocoon seeds that have a production value of 12.5 million yuan this year, said Xu Qingeng, the head of the cocoon station. (Edited by Chen Chuxuan)

Cocoon harvesters sort out sea of cocoons. [Photo by Sui Xiang provided to chinadaily.com.cn]