Agriculture drives rural development in Wudang

Gao Zhaoguang picks pears in his orchard. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Baiyi town in Wudang district is rich in water and ecological resources and has a beautiful environment and pleasant climate. Without industrial pollution sources, the town's water quality, atmosphere, soil and environment have all reached the national standard of Class II or above, and the local environment has reached the environmental quality standard of a Grade A green food production area.

In recent years, Baiyi has made strong efforts to cultivate new rural market entities and has developed "colorful agriculture", including houttuynia cordata, green vegetables, Chinese medical herbs, red peppers, yellow pears and black-feathered chicken.

This year, the town has planted 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of Chinese medical herbs, 450 mu of watermelons, 8,000 mu of peppers and 850 mu of pears.

Gao Zhaoguang, a local villager, has been planting pears for over 20 years. He uses organic fertilizer and manual weeding to ensure better quality and taste. This method is not only valued by the market, but also attracts many tourists.

Gao's annual pear sales revenue exceeds 100,000 yuan ($13,710).

The town is currently home to 65 rural professional cooperatives, 25 agricultural enterprises, and nine village-level collective economic organizations. And agriculture has become the town's pillar industry.