Dingnan Navel Oranges

Dingnan Navel Oranges

　　Industry Overview

　　 In recent years, our county has fully leveraged its unique climate, mountainous terrain, and geographical advantages. Following the overall requirements of “large-scale development, standardized management, industrialized operation, branded marketing, and socialized services,” the navel orange industry has achieved rapid and sound growth — from small to large scale, from rough to refined quality, and from weak to strong competitiveness. Currently, the county has 35,000 mu of navel orange orchards, of which 26,000 mu are in production. In 2007, navel orange production reached 8,000 tons, and it is expected to hit 12,000 tons this year. In 2007, the per capita income from navel oranges among the county’s agricultural population was 256 yuan, an increase of 68 yuan compared to 2006. Over 20,000 people have lifted themselves out of poverty and toward a well-off life through navel orange cultivation. The development of the navel orange industrial cluster has been remarkable, with the industry’s output value reaching over 55 million yuan, accounting for 28% of the county’s total agricultural output value, including 30 million yuan driven by related industries. The navel orange industry has become a leading sector in the county’s modern agriculture, a key industry for increasing agricultural efficiency and farmers’ income, and a powerful driving force behind the construction of a new socialist countryside in the county.

　　 Large-Scale Development

　　 Our county adopts an ecological model of “forestation on hilltops, fruit planting on hillsides, pond digging at the foot of hills, and water conservation forests at the base (water retention forest),” and has carried out unified scientific planning for the orchards. We adhere to the principle of planning before development, manually constructing terraced fields, implementing soil and water conservation measures, and ensuring supporting infrastructure such as water, electricity, and roads. This approach enables high-standard, eco-friendly development. We insist on farmers being the main drivers of development, guiding them to jointly develop and manage their plots individually. Efforts have also been intensified to attract investment for navel orange development, with a focus on developing large contiguous plantation bases. The area of navel orange orchards has been increasing at an average rate of 3,500 mu per year, with more than five new contiguous bases of over 200 mu added annually. Currently, there are over 1,500 growers in the county with orchards of 10 mu or more, and 46 contiguous bases of 200 mu or more, accounting for 45% of the total navel orange area. There are 13 navel orange industrial villages with over 1,000 mu each, and two large-scale bases covering 10,000 mu.

　　 Socialized Services

　　 Our county has comprehensively implemented the “Farmers’ Knowledge Enhancement Project,” establishing 26 training bases at various levels. Training in practical navel orange technologies has been intensified, with innovative methods employed. To date, 15,000 farmers have received training, 10,000 have been given on-site guidance, and 40,000 copies of various materials have been distributed. By actively bringing in external expertise and organizing local farmers to go out for learning, we have invited experts from outside the county to give 23 technical lectures and organized 15 study tours for fruit growers. Sixteen mature new technologies, including the “Seven Improvements,” five key promoted techniques, and grafting techniques, have been widely promoted, covering a demonstration area of over 20,000 mu. The promotion of standardized production has been intensified, with two provincial- and municipal-level standardized production demonstration zones established, covering 5,000 mu and benefiting 216 households. The county has successfully applied for two navel orange export bases, covering 1,500 mu, one organic navel orange base of 1,000 mu, and one EU-certified base currently under application.

　　 Organized Production

　　 Following the model of “Four Haves, Three Unifications, and Two Disclosures,” our county has established 28 fruit industry cooperative economic organizations at various levels, with 1,583 members, including eight fruit industry professional cooperatives with 129 members. Support and guidance for these organizations have been strengthened, encouraging them to actively carry out business activities, develop while standardizing, and then develop further. Focus has been placed on building four exemplary professional cooperatives. These cooperatives play a significant role in agricultural input distribution, technical training and promotion, market development, fruit sales, and information sharing. Each year, 30% of navel orange production is sold through cooperatives, effectively resolving the conflict between small-scale production and large-scale markets.

　　 Branded Marketing

　　 The county currently has four leading enterprises for navel orange processing and storage, with a combined annual processing capacity of over 20,000 tons and a storage capacity of 14,000 tons once all are operational. At present, 60% of the county’s navel oranges undergo commercial processing before entering the market, enhancing market competitiveness and risk resistance. The promotion of simple storage technologies has led to the construction of over 20,000 m² of simple storage facilities, achieving the goal of selling one-third of the produce around and during the Spring Festival. Market development efforts have been intensified, with two direct sales windows established in key cities, a marketing coordination mechanism set up, and contract-based fruit farming developed. By forming a specialized navel orange sales team that is well-informed, flexible, skilled in management, and adept at operations, we ensure the sale of navel oranges and increased income for fruit growers. Various forms of trade fairs, negotiation meetings, and promotional events have been actively organized, participated in, and hosted to promote the “Gannan Navel Orange” brand and expand sales channels. The “Gannan Navel Orange” brand is used uniformly, adhering to the principles of “Five Unifications, Four Distinctions, and Three Prohibitions,” with a total of 2 million geographical indication labels promoted and used.