Planting seeds of prosperity

In the village of Songzhuang – in the Dingtao district of Heze city in East China's Shandong province – grower Li Jihua has cultivated dragon fruit, much to the disbelief of family and friends.

Shandong province is in the colder northeastern part of China – located below national capital Beijing – while dragon fruit is typically associated with the balmier south of the country.

Li, who worked in the south for many years, decided to bring the fruit back to his hometown and try growing it there.

Despite skepticism from his family and friends, Li persisted and after more than a year of trying and learning from southern growers, he finally succeeded.

Currently, he has nearly 7,000 dragon fruit plants and plans to expand his cultivation program.

The success of Li's dragon fruit farm has not only boosted his income but also provided a new source of income for other farmers in the area.

Staff members work in Li Jihua's fruit orchid. [Photo by Li Li for chinadaily.com.cn]

The initiative to introduce southern fruit to the north has been encouraged by the local authorities in Dingtao district, as it helps to diversify the agricultural industry in the region and improve the rural standard of living and quality of life. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)