Zhang Baohua, secretary of the party branch of Anshan Village, introduced the characteristics of soft-seeded pomegranates.
This group of pictures is taken by Huang Cong, a reporter of The Yangtze River Business Daily
Yangtze River Business Daily News ● Yangtze River Business Daily public welfare reporter Huang Cong, Ding Mingyan, Wang Dani
On September 28, Longting Town was full of people and bustling, and the 2021 Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival in Hanzhong City was held here. In the specialty display area of the event, there are special agricultural products such as soft seed pomegranates from Longting.
Earlier, on September 25, the public welfare reporter of the Yangtze River Business Daily came to Anshan Village, Longting Town, YangXian County, Hanzhong City, and Zhang Baohua, secretary of the village party branch, introduced that the 150 mu of soft seed pomegranate in the village had a fruit hanging rate of 40% this year, and 100% fruit hanging could be achieved next year.
At present, the annual output value of 150 mu of land is about 600,000 yuan to 700,000 yuan, and it has also driven nearly 180 households in three groups in Anshan Village to absorb local migrant workers, and villagers can increase their income by more than 1,500 yuan a year.
"We also plan to build a new 60-square-meter refrigerated warehouse that can store 20 tons of pomegranates." Zhang Baohua introduced.
Zhang Baohua said with confidence that the village will make the pomegranate industry stronger and larger, form an industrial chain, and truly take the road of rural revitalization.
150 acres of soft-seeded pomegranates open the way to riches
Pomegranate, alias Ann Pomegranate, is native to Central Asian regions such as Iran and Afghanistan.
According to Zhang Hua's "Naturalist Chronicle" of the Western Jin Dynasty, "Han Zhang Qian made the Western Regions and had to tu Lin An Shi Guo to return to the country." In the Ming Dynasty, Wang Xiangjin's "Qunfang Spectrum", as well as the "Guangqun Fang Spectrum", "Xijing Miscellaneous Records", "Qi Min Zhi Shu" and so on are also recorded.
More than 2100 years ago, Zhang Qian obtained pomegranate seeds and introduced them to the interior from the Silk Road, and was first planted in the then imperial capital Chang'an Shanglin Garden and Lishan Hot Spring Palace.
Today, pomegranates are no longer royal tributes, but have become the "golden fruit" for farmers to get rich.
On the morning of September 25, the public welfare reporter of the Yangtze River Business Daily continued the 2021 Shaanxi "Rural Revitalization" public welfare tour, and in Anshan Village, Longting Town, Yang County, Hanzhong City, Zhang Baohua, secretary of the village party branch, rushed back to the village from the town to submit the construction of pomegranate orchards and other constructions.
It is understood that Anshan Village is located in the shallow hilly area 8 kilometers northwest of Longting Town, with an area of 2620 mu of arable land, under the jurisdiction of 8 villager groups, a total of 430 households and 1375 people.
Near Anshan Village, there are tourist attractions such as Cai Lun Tomb Ancestral Hall, Cai Lun Paper Culture Museum, Huayang Scenic Area, Crested Ibis Pear Garden Scenic Area, Crested Ibis National Nature Reserve, and there are Specialties such as Yangxian Black Rice, Yangxian Red Rice, Xiecun Yellow Wine, Yangxian Vegetable Tofu, Yangxian Fragrant Rice and so on.
"Our village planted 150 acres of soft-seeded pomegranate trees in 2018, and next year we can usher in a bumper harvest." Before a few words of greeting, Zhang Baohua introduced the local characteristic industries to the public welfare reporter of the Yangtze River Business Daily.
In the village's soft-seeded pomegranate orchard, the heavy fruit is decorated with branches, and the pomegranate is set like a lantern among the green leaves, which is particularly beautiful. "Pomegranates generally bloom in April and ripen in mid-August, and the pomegranates in our orchard have been picked in several batches, and now it is also the best time for the taste and the largest fruit." Zhang Baohua introduced.
Different from ordinary pomegranates, soft-seeded pomegranates, also known as "Tunisian soft-seeded pomegranates", have the characteristics of full grains, bright colors, thin skin and juicy water, high sweetness, and instant melting in the mouth.
The most distinctive thing about soft seed pomegranate is that it changes the disadvantage that hard-core seed kernels are difficult to swallow, and the seeds are soft and nutritious, not astringent.
Zhang Baohua plucked one from the pomegranate tree, "This pomegranate weighs almost one or two pounds." Holding a key in his hand, Zhang Baohua drew a whole circle about 3 centimeters away from the pomegranate flower crown, and gently removed the flower crown, and the crystal agate-like pomegranate grains were exposed.
Along the 5 white robes in the middle of the soft seed pomegranate, Zhang Baohua used the key to cut from top to bottom one by one, and the whole pomegranate was divided into five petals. "It's more convenient if you have a knife." Zhang Baohua gently broke open the five-petal pomegranate while speaking, and the click of the pomegranate separation was very pleasant.
"Pomegranate seeds can be eaten with confidence, and if you taste them carefully, you can still feel the smell of sesame seeds." Zhang Baohua's face was filled with a bright smile.
Strengthen the pomegranate industry annual output value of more than 600,000 yuan
Why did you choose to grow soft-seeded pomegranates?
Zhang Baohua introduced that the development of characteristic agriculture in the village can not only effectively consolidate the results of poverty alleviation, but also accelerate the pace of rural revitalization, "One side of the water and soil to nurture one side of the people, we have also planted peppers before." After the test of relevant experts in Hanzhong, it was found that the soil here is suitable for growing pomegranates, and the economic benefits are greater. ”
Therefore, in 2018, in accordance with the model of "company + base + farmer", Anshan Village introduced a batch of two-year seedling soft seed pomegranates, and it was the first generation of seedlings.
Zhang Baohua said: "In 2019, the soft-seeded pomegranate tree hung a fruit, and the fruit hanging rate reached 30% in 2020, reached 40% this year, and 100% fruit hanging can be achieved next year. ”
"You see, our pomegranate trees are full of fruit and rarely explode." Zhang Baohua pointed to the pomegranate fruit on the tree and said, "At present, the annual output value of 150 mu of land is about 600,000 yuan to 700,000 yuan, and we have also driven nearly 180 households in the surrounding three groups to absorb local villagers to work, and the villagers can increase their income by more than 1,500 yuan a year." ”
By 2022, the pomegranate trees in Anshan Village will be fully grown, "We also plan to build a new 60-square-meter refrigerated warehouse that can store 20 tons of pomegranates." Zhang Baohua introduced.
In October 2020, Yangxian Yingda Yee Hong Soft Seed Pomegranate Agriculture Co., Ltd. was established, and it is located in a group of Anshan Village in Longting Town, which is specialized in fruit planting and other businesses.
At present, in addition to local sales, soft-seeded pomegranates in Anshan Village are mainly sold to Hanzhong and surrounding counties and cities. "We hope to make efforts online to sell the good fruits here to all parts of the country."
It is worth mentioning that some crops such as pumpkins are also planted under the pomegranate trees in Anshan Village, which makes the value created by the land even greater." Zhang Baohua said.
"We must not only plant pomegranates, but also make the pomegranate industry stronger and larger, form an industrial chain, and truly take the road of promoting rural revitalization." Zhang Baohua is full of confidence in the future of the pomegranate industry.
The data shows that in 2020, the area of pomegranate orchards in Shaanxi Province reached 67,300 mu, an increase of 0.50 million mu over 2019, an increase of 8.0% year-on-year. According to the "2021-2027 China Shaanxi Pomegranate Industry Competition Status and Development Scale Forecast Report" released by Zhiyan Consulting, the area of pomegranate hanging fruit in Shaanxi Province reached 55,100 mu in 2020, an increase of 0.06 million mu over 2019, an increase of 1.1% year-on-year.
It is understood that in recent years, Yangxian has adhered to the industrial development as the main channel for poverty alleviation and income increase, through the implementation of organic leading projects, to drive the poor masses to develop poverty alleviation industries in combination with the actual situation, the county has formed a "1 + 5" pattern with the organic industry as the leader and the coordinated development of the five major industrial belts of "rice, fruit, fungi, medicine, and livestock".
Pomegranate orchard in Anshan Village.