Zone-based development model boosts agricultural sector

In recent years, Xianjia community in Gaomi, Weifang, has been pioneering a zone-based development approach, showcasing a chain-like model of interconnected areas fostering coordinated construction, industrial growth, and resource allocation.

This initiative has led to the establishment of three distinct demonstration zones: green fruit and vegetable cultivation in the northern region, digitalized smart livestock farming in the central area, and leisurely mulberry picking in the south.

Children gather mulberries at a farm in Gaomi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The mulberry trees cultivated by villagers in Xianjia community have flourished recently, heralding the imminent peak picking season. Spread across seven or eight villages, the over 66.67 hectares of mulberry trees feature more than twenty varieties, offering opportunities for fresh consumption, dried snacks, winemaking, and the production of tea, mulberry leaf flour, and noodles, enhancing the agricultural industry's value chain.

Kale in Gaomi, East China's Shandong province, is in harvest season. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Meanwhile, at the local Wanmuliangtian Farm, kale is being harvested, with the farm manager noting a 100 percent increase in planting scale compared to the previous year, reaching 56.66 hectares. Anticipating a yield of over 2,000 metric tons within the next twenty days, the farm is actively fulfilling orders for both domestic and international markets.

To further increase the community's income, efforts are being taken to enhance the training of agricultural technicians, introduce new farming technologies, and promote innovative kale varieties. (Edited by He Yuge)