Watermelons bring sweet success to locals

Big and round watermelons grow in a greenhouse in Xiyun village, Xiangyin township, Ningyang county, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Wen'an/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The first crop of watermelons grown by farmer couple Yang Dexin and his wife in Xiyun village, Xiangyin township, Ningyang county, Shandong province, has begun to mature, attracting many buyers. These watermelons are pesticide-free and highly popular among customers.

In addition to orders from local supermarkets and restaurants, there is even demand as far away as Jinan, Yang said.

People buy watermelons in Xiyun village, Xiangyin township, Ningyang county, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Wen'an/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Yang's couple manage four watermelon greenhouses, with each covering an area of over 800 square meters and generating a net profit of about 15,000 yuan ($2,070.04).

The Qilin watermelons from Xiyun village are famous for their bright red flesh, juicy and sweet taste, and crisp texture. These favorable qualities are attributed to the sandy loam soil and the use of soybean meal as base fertilizer and foliar fertilizer during cultivation.

Yang Dexin holds a big watermelon he planted in a greenhouse in Xiyun village, Xiangyin township, Ningyang county, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Wen'an/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Moreover, in the local Bafu industrial demonstration park, the "five-in-one" greenhouse system has cultivated a variety known as "gift watermelons". By utilizing the likes of soybean fermentation liquid and high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer, they produce fruits with a delicate texture and extremely sweet flavor.

In recent years, Xiangyin township, leveraging the strengths of leading enterprises and cooperatives, has been optimizing its planting structures and developing facility agriculture, bringing substantial benefits to local farmers. The thriving "sweet" industry has also increased farmers' incomes and prosperity. (Edited by Yang Yi)