Chongqing - Fengjie County, located in the northeast of Chongqing, is one of the most suitable regions in China for the growth of citrus fruits. Its abundant production of navel oranges is a local trademark and a geographical indication of China's agricultural products.
Recently, as part of the Perception of Chongqing event, international students went to the navel orange orchards in Fengjie County to uncover the secrets behind the local industry's prosperity.
International students went to the navel orange orchards of Dalu Village in Yongle Town in Fengjie County. (Photo/CINC)
Advanced technology extends supply times
Zuo Mingchun, the Party Secretary of Daba Village in Yongle Town, Fengjie County, introduced that Fengjie boasts optimal conditions for navel orange cultivation with its low humidity, ample sunlight, and absence of frost, tracing its cultivation history back to the Han Dynasty.
"I heard that oranges usually bloom first before bearing fruit. Why are they blooming and fruiting at the same time in this place?" Saahil Hussain, a YouTuber from India, asked when they came to the navel orange orchards in Daba Village.
Zuo Mingchun introduces the special preservation technique for navel oranges. (Photo/CINC)
"This is due to a special preservation technique," Zuo Mingchun said. Farmers used to harvest all oranges before the end of February to ensure the following year's yield wouldn't be affected. However, this approach no longer met market demands. To address the preservation challenge, farmers have mastered the current fruit preservation technique, guided by agricultural experts, after years of exploration and experimentation.
With this technology, the fresh orange sales season in Daba Village has extended from November of the previous year to June of the following year, spanning a remarkable eight months. This allows staggered market entry, significantly enhancing market competitiveness and prices. Consequently, Daba Village's navel orange industry has rapidly achieved an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan (about USD 13.8 million).
Agritourism draws tourists
"Every year from March to April, many tourists come here to experience the joy of picking navel oranges," said Zuo Mingchun, as he plucked an orange from the tree and invited everyone to taste it. Chaw Thiri Khaing, an international student from Myanmar, tasted it and gave a thumbs-up, "It tastes so sweet!"
International students taste Fengjie navel orange. (Photo/CINC)
Utilizing navel orange agricultural resources to develop rural tourism is an important attempt to extend and expand the navel orange industry chain in Daba Village. Daba Village began planning to integrate agriculture and tourism as early as 2018. Firstly, they improved the rural environment and infrastructure to make the countryside more beautiful. Then, they created integrated agricultural tourism zones in low-altitude areas, procurement industrial zones in mid-altitude areas, and leisure fishing sightseeing zones in high-altitude areas. Through this comprehensive layout, tourists can enjoy activities all year round.
Currently, Daba Village has six farmhouse inns, one leisure agriculture science and education experience field, eleven leading enterprises and cooperatives in navel orange leisure agriculture, and an annual average of nearly 20,000 visitors.
"Now that the high-speed railway from Fengjie to Chongqing is in operation, Fengjie can further capitalize on its local advantages in tourism resources and integrate tourism and the navel orange industry more closely," Wang Yongqiang, a professor from Sichuan International Studies University said.
Expanding the market for Fengjie's navel oranges
In recent years, Daba Village has leveraged various e-commerce platforms, such as JD.com and Pinduoduo, short videos, and new media platforms, like Douyin, to intensify online marketing and promotion of navel oranges. They have nurtured e-commerce sales anchors specifically for navel oranges, extending the reach and quality of Daba Village's navel orange sales.
Fengjie has attracted and nurtured 70 foreign trade enterprises in recent years, seizing the opportunities presented by the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. It continuously brings in export-oriented companies to Fengjie, directly connecting them with overseas markets, thereby expanding channels for exporting characteristic products like navel oranges. The establishment of the China Three Gorges Citrus (Fengjie Navel Orange) Trading Center has facilitated the better penetration of Fengjie's navel oranges into international markets. These oranges have been successfully exported to over ten countries, including Russia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.