Small Xixia Melons

Small Xixia Melons

　　In recent years, as part of efforts to advance agricultural restructuring, Xixia Town in Xihua County has leveraged local resource advantages by focusing on large-scale cultivation of small melons as a key component of this adjustment. Emphasizing scale advantages, building a full industry chain, targeting markets, and promoting branding, small melon cultivation has now become a profitable industry for the town, effectively boosting both agricultural output and farmers' incomes.

　　Ding Hongqi, an ordinary farmer from Zhuanzhuang Village in Xixia Town, Xihua County, used to work elsewhere. Seeing fellow villagers achieve prosperity through large-scale small melon farming, he returned home to start greenhouse cultivation of small melons. Lacking technical know-how, he actively sought advice from experienced growers. Coupled with timely support from the town’s science and technology task force in recent years, Ding quickly mastered the necessary skills. Now, seeing his greenhouse melons about to hit the market fills him with joy. Ding explained that he manages three greenhouses spanning over seven acres. With technical guidance, good melon quality, early market entry, and solid returns, the results are promising.

　　The early availability and high quality of the melons have led to a year-by-year expansion in local cultivation. To boost the agricultural brand, in recent years the Xixia Town Party Committee and government have designated Zhuanzhuang, Zhangbailou, and Houzhu among others as standardized agricultural production demonstration villages, providing them with funding and technical assistance. In terms of market development, they have actively helped melon growers expand their markets through internal and external connections, supplying timely information and resolving issues of supply-demand disconnection for both melon and vegetable farmers. This has strongly driven the scaled development of the industry, achieving increased agricultural output and income growth for farmers. Even though the small melons aren’t yet on the market, Zhuanzhuang Village has already received one sales order after another. Ding Hongqi, the village Party secretary, noted that melon cultivation in Zhuanzhuang has a history of over ten years—growing from just a few or dozens of acres to now over 800 acres. Through exploration and experience, growers have developed effective cultivation techniques, setting a strong example for increasing farmers’ income. Nowadays, melon cultivation has become a highlight in Xixia and even Xihua County, playing a significant role in boosting farmers’ earnings.

　　Source: Office of the People's Government of Xihua County