Ophiopogon Root crop thrives in Shandong's county

Caoxian county – located in Heze city in East China's Shandong province – has been witnessing a surge in the cultivation of Ophiopogon Root, a medicinal herb extract used in treating a variety of ailments in China.

This is said to mark a significant move towards a specialized agricultural industry centered around the valuable herb.

Ophiopogon Root, prized for its medicinal properties and documented in ancient Chinese pharmacological texts, has emerged as a lucrative crop for local farmers.

With its rhizome highly sought after in traditional Chinese medicine, cultivation of Ophiopogon Root has become a key economic endeavor for the community.

As the spring months roll by, so does the harvest season for Ophiopogon Root. Across Caoxian county, villagers are bustling with activity as they diligently gather it in. Along the roadsides, bustling markets dedicated to its trade paint a vibrant picture of abundance and prosperity.

To bolster the burgeoning industry and enhance local prosperity, Caoxian county has undertaken strategic measures. The establishment of cooperatives and the development of processing facilities have streamlined operations.

Adopting a model of "base + cooperative + farmers", the county provides coordinated support in terms of seeds, management and product collection, culminating in centralized market sales.

This integrated approach is said to not only mitigate risks for Ophiopogon Root growers, but also boosts the incomes of locals.

In the county's Ancailou town, the cultivation area for Ophiopogon Root now exceeds 30,000 mu (2,000 hectares), contributing to an impressive annual output value of 500 million yuan ($69.19 million). (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)