Zhoumensi Town is highly suitable to grow pears, but due to aging varieties, poor management, and outdated technology, the quality of pears declined and the industry was in depression. Xiajiang Village spared no efforts to advance the construction of “Party branch farms”. A 160-mu (10.67-hectare) Dongjiang Pear industry base was built through transferring land and improving varieties, and the brand “Dongjiang Pears” was established. 

 

 

A modern agricultural business model integrating production, storage, and sales was initially developed. It’s anticipated that the operational income of Xiajiang Village collective economy will exceed 200,000 yuan and over 100 people will be offered jobs this year. Dongjiang Pears become the featured industry to help rural vitalization and pave a new way to prosperity for the locals. 

 

Dongjiang Pears sell well, but considering the prices of fresh pears in the market, the overall additional value is not high. When pears flood into the market or are unmarketable, pear farmers won’t gain a decent income. In order to alleviate the sales pressure of fresh pears and fill the “gap period” of seasonal agricultural product sales, Shou Zhihua, Party branch secretary of Xiajiang Village, purchased facilities and equipment at his own expense to make preserved fruit, fruit wine and other products. 

 

 

Next, Xiajiang Village will continue to improve the additional value of Dongjiang Pears, extend the industrial chain and value chain, diversify sales models and expand the scale of market-oriented operation to promote the village collective economy.

 

Every April, pear flowers are in full bloom in Xiajiang Village. The pear flowers festival is held annually in the town to attract numerous tourists, which helps enhance the popularity of “Dongjiang Pears”. A tourism town integrating sightseeing, folk customs and leisure is being created to help rural tourism and the development of planting industry.

 

 

Now, there are over 400 rural households planting Dongjiang Pears, with a total planting area of more than 7,000 mu (about 466.67 hectares), which can produce a yield of 3 million tons and generate an annual output value of 10 million yuan.

 

In recent years, Zhoumensi Town has explored the way to increase the village collective economy, and vigorously developed the planting industry of Dongjiang Pears according to local conditions, leading the locals to embark on a path toward rural revitalization.