Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Jiayu county in Xianning city, Hubei province, has grown into a valuable vegetable base along the Yangtze River and earned a reputation as "China's Cabbage Town".
In the county's Panjiawan town, farmers work on the cabbage harvest. Over 10 years ago, 90 percent of cabbage seeds in Jiayu were imported from abroad, a costly and unsustainable practice. Due to the scarcity, local farmers often flocked to buy the seeds at midnight before they were snatched up.
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
In response, a team led by Fang Zhiyuan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Hubei Jinrun Agriculture Development Co Ltd, contributed to the birth of the self-cultivated cabbage seed Sitedan in 2013. Five years later, the locally bred seed stood out, contributing to China's self-dependence on seed growth.
This new seed variety suits the Yangtze River's climate for its resistance to frost and cracking, with a harvesting period that extends into February. These features have earned fame in domestic and foreign markets.
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Liu Chaohui, a local agriculture technician, explained that the introduction of Sitedan brought significant benefits to the local farmers and markets. The seed has become a local favorite thanks to costing half as much and yielding 20 percent more. The cabbage fields now cover over 6,600 hectares.
The economic impact has been transformative. Ye Xiangsong, one of the earliest farmers to adopt the seed, said it has brought his family over 200,000 yuan ($27,280) annually.
Over 17,000 farmers have grown the vegetable, which contributed to the per capita disposable income reaching 24,432 yuan in 2023.
Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
Farmers harvest cabbage in Jiayu county, Xianning city, Hubei province. [Photo by Lu Jian/for chinadaily.com.cn]
