Xiuwen explores green pathway for kiwifruit industry

The Xiuwen county bureau of agriculture and rural affairs has selected five high-quality kiwifruit orchards as pilot sites to improve fruit quality, enhance market competitiveness, and meet demand for green, high-quality produce.

By applying integrated technologies such as green manuring, rain-shelter cultivation, and enzyme application, the county is exploring an environmentally friendly path for the kiwifruit industry in mountainous areas.

A rain shelter covers an orchard. [Photo/website of Xiuwen county]

Efforts focus on soil improvement and tree nutrition, planting green manure between orchard rows to fix nitrogen, effectively increasing the soil's organic matter content. Special enzymes are sprayed on trees to boost their stress resistance, laying the foundation for green, high-quality fruit at the source.

Rain-shelter facilities have also been implemented, effectively blocking the spread of pathogens and pests by wind and rain, while also protecting against hail disasters. Through physical barriers, this approach ensures safe field management and reduces input costs for pesticides, fertilizers, and pest control in orchards.

Bureau staff members inspect an orchard. [Photo/website of Xiuwen county]

"We are piloting rain shelters and green manure planting to reduce disease infection at the source and grow higher-quality fruit more ecologically," said Wu Sufang, a bureau representative. "This year, the county will conduct full-process tracking and a systematic summary of technology application, cost-effectiveness, and fruit quality at the five pilot orchards. We then plan to carry out targeted promotion across the county's kiwifruit bases next year, and contribute to the sustainable and healthy development of Xiuwen's kiwifruit industry."