Weiyuan, Gansu: Rural Revitalization "Potato" Bright Industry | Potatoes | Weiyuan, Gansu
In the midsummer season, walking into Gansu Tiandi Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. located in Weiyuan County, Dingxi City, the staff of the sterile production workshop are carefully placing potato bottles and seedlings. The virus-free potato original seeds are growing well in the full sunlight greenhouse.
Potato bottle seedlings provided by the Propaganda Department of Weiyuan County Committee
Located at the intersection of the edge of the Loess Plateau and the western end of the Western Qinling Trench, the complex terrain, landforms, and climate conditions have nurtured the biodiversity of Weiyuan County, giving it the advantage of developing characteristic agriculture. In recent years, Weiyuan County has made every effort to promote the development of the potato seed potato industry, forming an integrated development pattern of planting, scientific research, and sales. Gansu Tiandi Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. has developed in this context.
Recalling the scene 10 years ago, Li Xiaomei, the chairman of the company, still remembers vividly: "The questions raised by the general secretary were both simple and professional, full of care and support for us. He also personally dug the original seeds of potatoes from the ground, giving us great encouragement."
For the past 10 years, the enterprise has adhered to strengthening the "three wheel drive" of technology, talent, and innovation, creating and establishing platforms such as the Weiyuan Workstation of the International Potato Asia Pacific Center, the Potato Expert Institute of Gansu Agricultural University, and the practical teaching base. It has introduced potato original seed hydroponics and fog cultivation production technologies, and adopted intelligent technology to carry out breeding; Through the cultivation model of "enterprise+workstation+agricultural university+cooperative", breeding and high-yield cultivation technology promotion are carried out, resulting in an average single plant yield of more than 30 seeds of foggy original seeds. The potato yield of virus-free seed potatoes has increased from 1.5 seeds per plant to 2.6 seeds per plant, and the annual production of bottle seedlings can reach 200 million and original seeds can reach 300 million, with an increase of more than twice the original yield. The enterprise also uses "potatoes" as a "medium" to build bases, strengthen driving forces, extend chains, and gather groups. It adopts a business model of "party organizations+leading enterprises+cooperatives+bases+farmers", and has built 4000 acres of original seed bases, 4000 acres of primary seed bases, and 20000 acres of secondary seed bases. Cooperative societies have attracted more than 8000 members, provided more than 1000 employment opportunities annually, and radiated to drive stable income growth for more than 12000 base farmers, achieving an average income increase of over 3000 yuan per household. "Following the path pointed out by General Secretary, our good days are still ahead," Li Xiaomei happily told reporters.
Image provided by the Propaganda Department of Weiyuan County Committee in the field of potato original seed breeding in an intelligent connected greenhouse
The once inconspicuous little potatoes have become "golden eggs", achieving a magnificent transformation from "life-saving potatoes" to "subsistence potatoes" and then to "moderately prosperous potatoes", which has greatly promoted the local poverty alleviation and rural revitalization process.
Photo provided by the Propaganda Department of Weiyuan County Committee of the Potato Original Seed Production Demonstration Base
In 2022, Weiyuan County established the Potato Seed Potato Marketing Alliance, built a modern potato agricultural industrial park, invested 156 million yuan to build 10 projects including the Yuangudui Village Potato Original Seed Production Base, and built more than 30000 acres of green standardized potato original seed county-level demonstration sites in towns such as Qinqi. The utilization rate of virus-free seed potatoes reached 100%. At the same time, we will actively develop ready to eat, fast food, health, and leisure food series, complete the certification of the origin mark for "Weiyuan Potato Seed Potato", register the "Five Bamboo", "Weihe Source", "Field Agriculture" brand potato seed trademark, and "Laidian Potato" brand series convenience food trademark, promote the extension and supplementation of the potato industry from bottle seedling cultivation to table food, and the development of the entire industry chain, and explore new paths for deep processing and efficiency improvement. The potato seed effect is gradually emerging. At present, seed potatoes are sold to more than 10 provinces and cities nationwide, with a sales volume of over 200000 tons and a revenue of over 500 million yuan in 2022.
Grateful and hardworking, the "sweet potato" shines endlessly.
