Donggang farmers reap sweet rewards from strawberry cultivation

Donggang in Northeast China's Liaoning province is taking advantage of policy support, an industrial cluster and advanced technologies to develop the strawberry industry in an effort to pursue Xiaokang, or moderate prosperity, in the region.

Cai Yougui, 44, a local farmer who contracted to run six strawberry greenhouses in 2017, now has an average annual income of 2 million yuan ($286,200).

"My money paid back within one year after I contracted for the strawberry greenhouses. Later on, I made more money, and my life got better and better," he said.

Cai noted that the first batch of the popular strawberries, which often come to the market at the beginning of October every year, would sell at over 200 yuan per kilogram. The average price in winter is over 80 yuan per kg.

Renowned as "China's first county for strawberries", Donggang is among the national high-quality strawberry production bases along with a reputation of being a pollution-free agricultural goods production base.

The strawberry cultivation industry has over 80 years of history in the county, serving as a local traditional dominant planting variety and a key factor in agricultural development.

Donggang's strawberry industry experienced rapid development in recent years thanks to government's favorable policies, cooperation between leading enterprises and farmer households, advanced technologies, and government supervision. The city is now China's largest strawberry production and export base.

Data from the publicity department of the Donggang municipal Party committee showed that the city now owns over 400 strawberry cooperatives, farms and enterprises. They have over 100,000 employees.

In 2019, the strawberry production area in Donggang reached 9,867 hectares with production of 230,000 metric tons. The output value was 4.6 billion yuan and the yearly export earnings reached $35 million. The brand value of Donggang strawberries totaled 7.8 billion yuan, it said.

"The strawberry industry has become a leading industry for local farmers to increase income and is an important supporting force for city development," said Mu Xiufeng, deputy director of the publicity department of the Donggang municipal Party committee.

"Donggang is in the humid monsoon climate zone. The humidity and sunlight are suitable for strawberry cultivation. The appearance and taste of the strawberries are attractive," said Wang Gangyi, a professor at the College of Economics and Management at the Northeast Agricultural University.

In addition, the industrial cluster effect of the strawberry industry is beneficial in screening good varieties and forming benign competition, he said.

"The development of the strawberry industry helps local farmers to strive for Xiaokang. The government offers supportive policies, and the industrial cluster contributes to variety popularization and technology promotion. Besides, as the industry develops well, local banks can offer targeted support," he added.

Li Shengfei, a local farmer who contracted to run strawberry greenhouses, said: "Having strawberry greenhouses gives me a sense of security. Before planting strawberries, I couldn't sleep well at night, worrying about whether I could have farm work to do the next day."

"Now, my whole life has changed. I have work to do every day. I make 400,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan every year. I think I have achieved Xiaokang," she said.

The sales volume of strawberries from Donggang fell at the start of the COVID-19 epidemic due to blocked transportation.

The local government and industrial associations helped farmers explore sales channels and worked with e-commerce platforms such as Taobao and JD to enhance promotion. Merchants used online platforms such as WeChat and Douyin to sell strawberries, quickly turning the situation around.

Wang said that such business mode can also be promoted to other rural areas in North China, setting an example for rural revitalization.