Xingshan Thin-shelled Walnuts

Xingshan Thin-shelled Walnuts

Xingshan Thin-shelled Walnuts is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Xingshan, anciently known as “Yi,” is the hometown of Wang Zhaojun, the Han Dynasty imperial consort, and is located in the mountainous western region of Hubei Province on the northern bank of the Xiling Gorge of the Yangtze River. Walnuts are a renowned local specialty product of Xingshan with a long cultivation history. As recorded in the county annals from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, “the county produces a considerable amount, and its walnuts can be traded over long distances.” The walnut industry has made important contributions to the rural economic development of Xingshan and is highly favored by farmers. At the second Provincial Forestry Expo, Xingshan Thin-shelled Walnuts gained fame across Wuhan’s three towns for their attractive appearance and sweet taste, and won the Gold Award at the expo. In recent years, however, Xingshan’s walnut production has faced issues such as variety degeneration and declining yields. The author proposes the following viewpoints on how to revitalize the walnut industry in Xingshan.

　　I. Development Overview

　　 The walnut production in Xingshan mainly adopts an intercropping method with grain, with few large contiguous plantations, but the production area covers a wide range. The current total area is 12,000 mu, with 275,000 trees. All eight townships in the county have a history of walnut production, mainly concentrated in mid-to-high mountain areas at elevations of 400–1,200 meters. In 1949, the total walnut output of the county was 5,550 kg, reaching 305,000 kg in 1966, and hitting a historical peak of 347,600 kg in 1978. During the 1980s and 1990s, walnut production suffered setbacks, with yields dropping significantly. By 2002, the total output had fallen to just 126,000 kg. In recent years, through guidance and improved management, the output reached 200,000 kg in 2004.

　　 The main superior varieties of Xingshan walnuts are thin-shelled types, represented by “7904” and “9922.” Among them, “7904” was listed as a nationally designated high-quality variety for promotion at the National Walnut Superior Variety and Yield-Increasing Technology Collaboration Conference held by the Chinese Academy of Forestry in 1979. “9922” is a national-level superior strain jointly selected by the County Forestry Research Institute and Yangtze University between 1999 and 2004. Additionally, 20 national first-class superior strains were selected. Due to their appealing appearance, rich nutrition, and good taste, they were recognized by the Provincial Science and Technology Department as a major scientific and technological achievement in 2004.

　　 The market demand for Xingshan Thin-shelled Walnuts exceeds supply, with 80% of the yield meeting local demand and only a small portion sold outside the county, yet prices remain high, reaching over 20 yuan per kg this year.

　　II. Recent Developments in the Walnut Industry

　　 First, a general plan has been formulated. In 2004, the County Forestry Bureau organized a dedicated team to conduct thorough research and extensively consult experts, resulting in the development of the “Xingshan County Thin-shelled Walnut Project Construction Plan.” Approved by the county government, it was issued throughout the county in the form of Xingzhengbanfa [2004] No. 22. This year, the walnut industry has been incorporated into the “11th Five-Year” forestry plan of Xingshan, with a planned construction scale of 100,000 mu over five years. Second, development has been promoted in conjunction with projects such as the Grain for Green Program. From 2002 to 2004, 1,720 new mu of walnut plantations were added, with 95,000 seedlings planted, involving over 820 farming households in four townships—Huangliang, Gaoqiao, Xiakou, and Gufu—with an average of 2.1 mu planted per household. Third, walnut demonstration bases have been established. Last winter and this spring, a 3,000-mu demonstration garden was established in the Zhangjiahe River Basin of Huangliang Town, involving over 700 farming households in four villages—Dianziya, Shuimoxi, Jiepaiya, and Jinjiaba. Currently, the average tree height exceeds 50 cm, with a survival rate of over 60%, and a permanent promotional billboard for thin-shelled walnuts has been erected. Fourth, progress has been made in superior variety propagation. This year, close technical cooperation has been established with Yangtze University and Fangxian Walnut Research Institute, overcoming previous challenges in grafting survival rates. The grafting technique has been largely mastered, with 5 mu of seedling cultivation completed. The survival rate in the same year exceeded 80%, and it is expected that 13,000 high-quality grafted seedlings will be ready for sale by the end of this year. Fifth, pest and disease prevention and monitoring have been strengthened. A pest and disease monitoring point has been set up in the Zhangjiahe River Basin of Huangliang, guiding pest control in four villages in the area, resulting in a yield increase of over 30% compared to last year. Sixth, science and technology training has been emphasized. Regular training sessions on pest control and high-yield cultivation techniques are conducted in walnut production areas every year. This year, 15 sessions were held, training 2,500 farmers and distributing over 5,000 technical materials.

　　III. Challenges and Difficulties in Development

　　 (1) Few superior varieties, variety degeneration

　　 Xingshan has a certain number of national-level superior individual strains, but they cover a small area and yield low overall, accounting for only over 30% of the county’s total, resulting in poor market competitiveness and low economic returns for the county’s walnut products.

　　 (2) Extensive management, low yield

　　Walnut cultivation still relies on traditional techniques, with minimal farmer investment and a strong reliance on weather conditions. Issues such as seedling variety, quality, land preparation methods, and cultivation techniques fail to meet modern development standards. Farmers do not prune, prevent or treat diseases and pests, apply fertilizer, or remove weeds, leading to low yields, degraded quality, and unstable production. Currently, with 12,000 mu under cultivation, the output is only 200,000 kg, averaging 16.7 kg per mu, which is 233 kg less than the standard yield.

　　 (3) Severe pest and disease issues

　　 Although localized pest and disease control efforts have achieved notable results in recent years, the overall damage across the county remains severe. Major pests and diseases include the Giant Panda Moth, the Walnut Shoot Borer, and the Walnut Weevil. Investigations show that losses caused by pests and diseases account for over 30% of the annual yield.

　　 (4) Serious shortage of funding

　　 The county-level walnut industry plan includes the development of 50,000 mu, including the renovation of 10,000 mu and the establishment of 40,000 mu of new orchards, requiring a total investment of about 15 million yuan. Aside from some self-raised funds from labor contributions, nearly 6 million yuan (150 yuan per mu in seedling subsidies) is still needed, requiring support from the county government and various departments. Cumulative investment in recent years amounts to just over 340,000 yuan, including: about 86,000 yuan from the Grain for Green Program for seedling subsidies; nearly 50,000 yuan allocated by the Forestry Bureau for seedling production support; 50,000 yuan from the Poverty Alleviation Office for demonstration base construction; and approximately 154,000 yuan raised by farmers. Beyond these, no other funding has been secured, falling far short of the industry’s development needs.

　　 (5) Difficulty in cultivating demonstration households (bases)

　　 Due to the short-term behavior of farmers rooted in traditional smallholder mindsets, failure to manage and cultivate according to technical requirements, insufficient funding, and lack of incentive policies, the effectiveness of this year’s demonstration household (base) initiatives has been limited.

　　IV. Necessity of Development

　　 The walnut industry is poised to become a vital livelihood sector for residents in mid-to-high mountainous areas above the semi-mountain level, as well as a leading industry for agricultural economic development. Currently, lowland areas have developed citrus as a key agricultural income source, while highland areas focus on tobacco and vegetables. However, mid-level and semi-mountain areas still lack a dominant income-generating nut crop. Therefore, walnut development is the natural priority for this region. In 2004, Dianziya Village in Huangliang Town produced 10,000 kg of walnuts, with over ten households—including Han Dingguo and Zheng Guangfa—averaging over 350 kg per household and earning more than 4,500 yuan. Developing walnuts offers advantages over other fruit crops and industries: first, they store well, with a shelf life of 1–3 years; second, prices are stable, generally ranging from 10–20 yuan per kg; third, yields and incomes are reliable. With proper management and intensive operations, grafted superior seedlings can bear fruit in the planting year, entering peak production by the fifth year, yielding 250 kg per mu. They are early-bearing, high-yielding, and stable, with a productive lifespan of over 50 years. Fourth, input costs are low, averaging around 300 yuan per mu. Fifth, in line with the Grain for Green Policy, integrated planting models such as forest-medicine, forest-grain, and forest-grass can be implemented, significantly increasing benefits. For example, in Huangjiahe Village, Xiakou Town, medicinal plants (Peucedanum praeruptorum) were planted under walnut trees established during the 2004 Grain for Green conversion. By July this year, investigations showed that medicinal plant income alone exceeded 1,000 yuan per mu.

　　V. Favorable Conditions for Development

　　 First, Xingshan has abundant land resources and favorable climatic conditions for walnut development. The region features a subtropical continental monsoon climate, with 1,680 annual sunshine hours, an average temperature of 17.5°C, annual precipitation of 980 mm, and a frost-free period of 272 days—ideal for walnut cultivation. The county’s mid- and high-altitude areas between 400–1,200 meters encompass over 150,000 mu of suitable land.

　　 Second, the development foundation is solid. The county currently preserves over 10,000 mu of walnut plantations, has a number of superior varieties, and enjoys strong farmer enthusiasm for development.

　　 Third, breakthroughs have been made in walnut production technology. This year, the indoor grafting survival rate of walnuts at the County Forestry Research Institute exceeded 80%, with 12,000 high-quality seedlings available. The county also has a skilled technical workforce, including 135 professionals—1 at the senior level, 14 at the intermediate level, and 120 at the junior level. Over years of practice, local producers have accumulated expertise in seedling cultivation, orchard establishment, management, and pest control.

　　 Fourth, transportation is convenient. The county has well-developed water and land transport networks, and all villages in major walnut-producing areas are accessible by road, ensuring smooth logistics for base construction and future production, supply, and sales.

　　VI. Measures and Recommendations

　　 In light of the actual development of the walnut industry, and in strict accordance with the spirit of the Notice on Issuing the Construction Planning Scheme for Thin-Shelled Walnut Projects in Xingshan County (Xingzhengbanfa [2004] No. 22) issued by the County Government Office, the following suggestions and measures are proposed to ensure that by 2009, the area under thin-shelled walnuts reaches 100,000 mu, with an average yield of 250 kg per mu and a total production of 25 million kg, making it a pillar industry for rural economic development and farmers’ income growth in Xingshan:

　　 (1) Clarify the Leading Body and Establish a Dedicated Team

　　 First, establish a county-level leading group for walnut industry development, with the county party committee deputy secretary or county head serving as the group leader, and key leaders from the Finance Bureau, Development and Reform Commission, Science and Technology Bureau, Poverty Alleviation Office, Forestry Bureau, and the Old Revolutionary Base Areas Promotion Association as members. This group will provide unified leadership and coordination for the walnut industry across the county. Regular meetings should be held specifically to discuss walnut production, and leadership should be strengthened and oversight strictly enforced, just as with citrus and tobacco industries.

　　 Second, establish a dedicated working team, i.e., the County Walnut Industry Development Office. Staffing, operational funding, office space, and responsibilities must be clearly defined. Its main duties include organizing and guiding walnut production across the county, overseeing planning and design, inspection and acceptance, technical services, and policy implementation. A comprehensive set of rules, regulations, and job responsibility systems should be established for this working team.

　　 Third, key townships involved in project construction should also set up corresponding thin-shelled walnut production leadership groups and assign specific personnel to handle related tasks.

　　 (2) Secure Necessary Construction Funds and Working Expenses

　　 It is recommended that the county government allocate a special fund of about 500,000 yuan annually for walnut industry development. This fund will mainly address the following four aspects:

　　 First, the annual operating expenses of the industry development office, including planning and design fees, technical guidance fees, travel expenses, and inspection and acceptance costs. It is suggested that these be covered by the county finance, amounting to 100,000 yuan per year.

　　 Second, policy support funds. These are mainly for supporting the establishment of demonstration bases. Similar to the approach taken for citrus development, a certain subsidy per mu should be provided to encourage farmers—approximately 50 yuan per mu, based on inspected and approved areas, totaling around 150,000 yuan per year.

　　 Third, science and technology funds. These cover the protection of superior varieties, the establishment of scion orchard bases, seedling breeding greenhouses (bases), and enhanced technical training. It is recommended that 200,000 yuan be allocated annually from the county finance.

　　 Fourth, pest and disease control funds. Implement coordinated prevention and control efforts, providing equipment and some pesticides. It is suggested to allocate 50,000 yuan per year for this purpose.

　　Additionally, various funds should be integrated and used collectively. This includes poverty alleviation and development funds, allocated agricultural funds from the finance department, and other special funds secured from various sources. These should be scientifically arranged and partially bundled for investment in walnut industry development.

　　 (3) Strengthen the Development of High-Quality Seedling Breeding Bases

　　 Focus on developing local thin-shelled walnuts, represented by over 20 superior strains such as “9922,” leveraging existing local seedling breeding techniques and facilities to vigorously propagate grafted seedlings and ensure the purity and quality of the varieties. First, protect the existing high-quality thin-shelled walnut mother trees and seed resources. These superior trees, numbering over 20, were jointly selected by our county and the former Provincial Agricultural College and have been recognized for major provincial scientific and technological achievements. They are distributed across towns such as Huangliang and Gufu. Protection and utilization contracts should be signed with farmers, with superior trees marked for protection, and seeds and scions purchased at prices 30% higher than market rates. This will lay a solid foundation for establishing scion orchards and grafted seedling bases. Second, establish a 50-mu seedling breeding base centered around the County Forestry Science Institute, including a 15-mu scion orchard and 35 mu for grafted seedling breeding, yielding 140,000 grafted seedlings annually to basically meet the county’s needs.

　　 (4) Develop High-Quality Demonstration Bases

　　 Concentrate funds and technical resources to further develop the high-quality walnut demonstration base in the Zhangjia River Basin. In addition to promoting local superior strains, appropriately introduce high-quality varieties from other regions, such as Yunnan shell walnuts, “Zhonglin,” “Luguang,” and “Xianglin.” Adopt a research institute + base + farmer development model, establishing a forest + grass (herbs) + livestock + biogas + fertilizer ecosystem. Provide regular guidance and training, maintain close cooperation with research institutes, and establish long-term collaborative relationships with Yangtze University, the Municipal Forestry Science Institute, and the Fangxian Walnut Research Institute to ensure reliable technical support. Focus on cultivating exemplary households to generate benefits, results, and experience, thereby radiating influence and driving development across the entire county.

　　 (5) Conduct Scientific Planning and Advance Steadily

　　 Using the already issued master plan as a blueprint, advance in a planned, step-by-step, and focused manner in a scientific way. Based on the overall Plan, formulate detailed annual implementation schemes. The detailed plans should extend to villages, households, and individual fields, with scientific layouts and emphasis on key areas to ensure the timely achievement of industrial development goals.