“Now, we are working hard to make more traditional products, as well as improve the quality of the newly-developed products to participate in the Yao-She Culture and Tourism Festival to be held on the weekend.” In the bustling production workshop, the factory owner Zhong Baoquan instructs workers to make glutinous rice cakes while contacting business through his mobile phone.

 

Dahe glutinous rice cake making has been passed down from generation to generation in Reshui Town. Almost every household makes it a great gift for visiting relatives and friends. It’s a must-eat food during Spring Festival.

 

 

The 48-year-old Zhong Baoquan has been fond of making glutinous rice cake since childhood. In 2007, when he saw Fuquan Villa brought high popularity through hot spring resources, he, who had been a teacher for many years, integrating the resources and traditional products must be a good way to increase income at home. 

 

Therefore, after dozens years of efforts, the glutinous rice cake has seen steady progress, and its annual revenue has soared from the initial tens of thousands of yuan to more than 5.6 million yuan. The gross income is over 680,000 yuan. 

 

By developing glutinous rice cake industry, Zhong Baoquan and his family lived a happier life, with cars, delivery trucks, and apartments purchased. 

 

A total of 8 processes are required to make a glutinous rice cake and each process is strictly controlled, especially with high requirements for high-quality raw materials and alkaline water. 

 

There are many ways to eat glutinous rice cakes, including steaming, boiling and frying. It has become a new favorite in the catering industry. 

 

 

In the past, Huangjing firewood, which grew naturally in Reshui Town, was not uncommon. However, due to slow growth and increasing demand, there is less Huangjing firewood. It was purchased from farmers in surrounding towns and counties, and the price also doubled several times. 

 

What’s more, Dahe rice, with a yield of less than 450 kg per mu (0.067 hectare), had a much higher purchase price than conventional rice. Nevertheless, Zhong Baoquan never considered switching to other substitutes. 

 

“Only good raw materials can produce good products, and we can’t damage our reputation just because we want to get things on the cheap.” Zhong Baoquan said that the traditional production craft of Dahe glutinous rice cake is the city’s intangible cultural heritage item. Now, as young adults go out for work, this craft can’t be well inherited. He has the responsibility to carry forward it, and focuses on other aspects to achieve quality and efficiency improvement. 

 

Zhong Baoquan has made unremitting efforts to expand markets, improve production capacity, innovate skills and improve quality. Currently, the main factory has separate workshops for storage, soaking, steaming and airing, with modern equipment in place. 

 

 

Especially after purchasing advanced equipment such as sterilization and vacuum packing, the shelf life of products has increased from less than half a month to six months, overcoming the key problems restricting the development of the industry. 

 

Pollution-free production emissions have also been achieved by smokeless steamers. 

 

Nowadays, the company has received many honorary titles and more than 20 awards. The main factory has two production lines that are in operation throughout the year, especially during holidays and cultural and tourism events, with full production capacity every day.

 

Apart from improving the quality of more than 10 traditional products, it has also developed a series of new products, which will be sold on the market.

 

A local villager Zhong Dongying is in her fifties. Twenty years ago, her husband passed away when her son was still in an elementary school, and they lived a hard life. 

 

After learning this, Zhong Baoquan provided a job for her. Her son also worked in the factory after graduating from a vocational school. Her son now is the head of the Hengyang factory, with a total income of 200,000 yuan. 

 

Now, Zhong Dongying and her family has shaken off poverty, built new houses and purchased a sedan car. 

 

At the main factory, there are 6 permanent workers, and over 20 people during busy seasons. At the same time, the factory helps villagers increase income by purchasing Dahe rice and Huangjing firewood. 

 

 

As a leading enterprise in the county’s glutinous rice industry, it actively plays a demonstration and driving role, provides assistance such as technical guidance, market expansion and experience reference, and drives the development of more than 30 professional glutinous rice processing factories in the county. 

 

In the past, the leaders of the relevant departments in Rucheng County repeatedly persuaded Zhong Baoquan to move the factory to the economic development zone for high-quality development, but he declined. He wanted to help local villagers become rich. 

 

Zhong Baoquan said that he rented the old village hall and warehouses to build Dahe glutinous rice cake cultural exhibition park integrating production, experience, product exhibition, inheritance and study, with an investment of more than 2.8 million yuan. The construction of the project was started in early June this year.