Two counties in Zhanjiang, Lianjiang and Xuwen, were recently listed on the third batch of national modern agriculture demonstration areas, according to an announcement released Monday by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Zhanjiang has traditionally been a large agricultural city in Guangdong province, enjoying superior natural conditions and rich natural resources. The two new demonstration zones, Xuwen county and Lianjiang county-level city, have notable advantages in agricultural development.

Lianjiang city, known as the “hometown of blood oranges”, has given full play to its natural superiority as a subtropical coastal city. It now has six major agricultural industries including rice cultivation, vegetable cultivation, tropical fruit planting, organic green tea planting, ecological animal husbandry and large-scale aquaculture.

The city is also a pioneer in Guangdong province in terms of agricultural infrastructure construction, agricultural mechanical equipment renovation and agricultural technology promotion.

Xuwen has been labeled as the “hometown of pineapples” in China, with an annual production capacity of 340,000 tons, accounting for one-third of the whole nation’s production.

Moreover, the county enjoys great geological advantages in planting bananas, galangals and winter vegetables. It also has the most agricultural mechanical equipment among all counties in Guangdong.

The two national modern agriculture demonstration areas will get financial support from governments at all levels for further renovation.

Xuwen and Lianjiang will be a bellwether in agricultural reform and agricultural modernization in Zhanjiang. They will help Zhanjiang become a leading force in China’s agricultural development.