During a recent inspection of the Huaniu apple base in the Nanshan area of Tianshui City, Gansu Province, General Secretary Xi Jinping urged local farmers to expand their apple industry, expressing his hopes that their lives would blossom like the abundant apples they harvest.
Reflecting on a visit back in February 2015, he returned to Liangjiahe in Shaanxi, where he toured the apple orchards on the mountain ridges. At that time, during a significant poverty alleviation campaign, he encouraged the farmers, stating, “You must firmly continue to develop the apple industry.”
Fast forward to October 2022, he visited the apple orchards in Nangou Village, Yan’an, Shaanxi. There, he commended the locals by saying, “This is agricultural modernization; you’ve found the right direction for industrial development.” This visit came as the call for comprehensive rural revitalization was actively resonating throughout the country.
These repeated visits by the people’s leader to apple orchards highlight not just his genuine concern but also his high hopes for these communities. The apple industry is crucial for improving people’s livelihoods while linking the successes of poverty alleviation to rural revitalization efforts. In fact, China boasts an apple cultivation area of nearly 30 million acres, yielding approximately 47.57 million tons, firmly establishing itself as the world’s leading apple producer.
Since the beginning of this new era, the variety structure of apples in China has been progressively refined, with growing levels of industrialization, increased international competitiveness, and a steady rise in technological contributions. According to Ma Fengwang, chief scientist of the National Apple Industry Technology System and a professor at Northwest A&F University, the adjustment and optimization of apple production have significantly accelerated, responding to both consumer demand and industrial upgrades by concentrating on advantageous production regions.
In terms of effective breeding, China has successfully developed 152 new apple varieties that hold independent intellectual property rights. Notably, 70% of new orchards are opting for domestic varieties, leading to an improved source structure and seed quality. New varieties like “Huashu,” “Luli,” “Qincui,” and “Ruixue” are now being planted on a large scale.
Additionally, over 70% of new orchards have embraced modern cultivation practices. These include mechanized management, efficient tree shapes, precise bloom and fruit management, integrated soil and fertilization methods, and eco-friendly pest control techniques.
Significant advancements in storage and transportation infrastructure, such as intelligent sorting lines, refrigerated vehicles, and controlled-atmosphere storage, coupled with innovative marketing strategies like futures trading, direct sales outlets, and e-commerce, are bolstering both production and sales.
From the east to the west and across the north and south, apple cultivation has been established in nearly every province in China, employing millions in the industry. As productivity surges and farmer incomes rise, the ‘red apples’ are increasingly being transformed into ‘golden apples.’
(Reported by Chang Qin)
[Edited by Shao Wanyun]
