Specialized agricultural products boost rural vitalization in Shandong district

The Sichuan peppers grown in Nanluangong village, Laiwu district, Jinan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, Laiwu district of Jinan in Shandong province has been strategically developing its agricultural sector, focusing on specialty livestock breeding and crop cultivation.

The district’s Nanluangong village recently celebrated a bountiful harvest of Sichuan pepper, while also hosting events like agricultural product exchanges and Sichuan pepper picking competitions.

"Our village boasts over 4,000 mu (266.67 hectares) of Sichuan pepper plantations, yielding 180,000 kilograms annually and generating over 6 million yuan ($822,000) in total sales revenue. Looking ahead, we plan to further process Sichuan pepper to strengthen and expand the industry," shared Wang Ziyun, Party secretary of Nanluangong village.

Meanwhile, Gelao village in the same district has been actively engaged in the cultivation and processing of Chinese medicinal herbs. Collaborating with research institutions, the village established a cooperative for Chinese medicinal herb cultivation, leading to an additional income of nearly 2.8 million yuan for local villagers each year.

"These Chinese medicinal herbs are sold to many pharmaceutical factories in China, with the Chrysanthemum herbs even being exported to countries such as Japan. Demand for the herbs is high," said Xie Jiabin, Party secretary of Gelao village.

Currently, Laiwu district is able to supply 25,000 black pigs, 30,000 black goats, 200,000 Jishan black chickens, and 100,000 black rabbits annually. Laiwu black pigs have been listed in the outstanding agricultural products catalog by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and were included in the first batch of the "Remarkable Shandong" list.

According to statistics, 70 percent of the international market's ginger slices are produced in Laiwu. Additionally, the district is also cultivating sweet potatoes, edible fungi, cherries, strawberries, and other crops to establish a diversified agricultural industry system. (Edited by Li Weiwei)