Walking Horse Papaya

Walking Horse Papaya

　　Walking Horse papaya is a specialty of Zouma Town, Hefeng County, Enshi Prefecture, Hubei Province. The agricultural center of Zouma Town places great emphasis on delivering science and technology directly to farmers. Based on the actual conditions of each village, they provide tailored guidance at the right time, vigorously developing the production of medicinal materials such as papaya, achieving modest success.

　　Papaya is often called the "king of beneficial fruits." Its fruit can be eaten or used medicinally, and its beautiful flowers also make it suitable for ornamental purposes. Its unique papain enzyme can cleanse the heart and moisten the lungs, aid digestion, and help treat stomach diseases. The exclusive papaya alkaloid has anti-tumor properties and exhibits strong anti-cancer activity against lymphocytic leukemia cells, making it highly popular among local people.

　　Walking Horse Town’s papaya is mainly produced in Zheping and Quxi villages. Originally, there were less than 100 acres of wild papaya, which mostly grew in hilly areas with harsher natural environments. Due to poor management, local incomes were very low. In recent years, technicians from the town’s agricultural center have gone deep into the papaya orchards, providing face-to-face instruction and hands-on teaching to help farmers master relevant techniques. The town has also timely introduced improved varieties of papaya seedlings, established specialized cooperatives, and increased the number of growers. Currently, the area planted with improved papaya varieties has expanded to over 500 acres.