Sweet potato sector burgeons in Shandong province

Linshu county – located in Linyi city in East China's Shandong province – is currently experiencing burgeoning success in its agricultural sector, with its sweet potato industry in particular taking center stage.

Sweet potatoes are a popular crop in the northern regions of China. In the past, they've served as a crucial food source for many farmers. But nowadays, sweet potatoes have evolved into a beloved snack for all ages.

Thanks to its abundant sunlight and ample rainfall, sweet potatoes from Linshu are moderately sized, with a smooth skin and delicate flesh.

Packed with nutrients such as protein, starch and selenium, when roasted they offer a delightful combination of fragrance, sweetness, softness and stickiness, making them a favored snack.

Over the last few years, Linshu county has been busy developing its sweet potato sector, forming an industrial cluster with over 30 producers engaged in planting, processing and sales.

In addition to traditional products, the county has been focusing on high-value-added modified starch products – such as fast-food products and semi-finished products – which are exported to Japan, South Korea and other places.

Staff sort dried sweet potato slices in a processing plant. [Photo by Wang Fang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Currently, the sweet potato planting area in Linshu county covers over 150,000 mu (10,000 hectares), with a total annual output exceeding 500,000 tons. The output value per mu is over 4,800 yuan ($666.98) (Edited by Zhou Yunlai).