Dun'gang Water Chestnuts

Dun'gang Water Chestnuts

　　Dun'gang water chestnuts are large in size, thin-skinned, and thick-fleshed, with a bright and appealing color. They have a crisp, refreshing, juicy, sweet taste with no residue, offering an excellent mouthfeel. Known for their health benefits such as clearing heat, reducing internal heat, and promoting saliva production to soothe the stomach, they are an ideal green food product with a shelf life of up to one year.

　　The cultivated land in Dun'gang Town is mostly basin plains, with soil parent material mainly consisting of alluvial deposits from sand shale and Quaternary red earth carried by rivers. The topsoil is deep, fertile, rich in organic matter, and has excellent physical and chemical properties, making it highly suitable for the growth and development of water chestnuts. The town has a long history and broad community involvement in water chestnut cultivation. According to local county records, water chestnuts have been grown in Dun'gang for over 300 years. Thanks to the deep, fertile topsoil and favorable climate, the harvested water chestnuts are notable for their large size, thin skin, crisp texture, sweet juiciness, high moisture content, lack of residue, and ease of preservation, storage, and processing. As a result, they have become a renowned local specialty product in the mountainous regions of northern Guangdong, enjoying fame both within the province and beyond.

　　In recent years, Dun'gang Town has focused on building the "Dun'gang Water Chestnut" brand by promoting the cultivation and application of high-yield, high-quality water chestnuts. The town has guided farmers towards an industrial management model of "association + base + farmer," consolidating scattered growers into an organized system. Collaborative relationships with universities such as South China Agricultural University and scientific research institutions have been established. These partnerships are responsible for introducing and promoting new varieties and technologies, providing technical guidance and training for water chestnut production. Leveraging high-yield, high-quality demonstration bases, the town actively promotes advanced cultivation techniques. Training covers a wide range of practices including seedling cultivation, field selection and preparation, application of base fertilizer, timely transplanting, proper planting density, field management, harvesting, and seed retention. As a result, farmers have generally mastered the techniques for high-yield water chestnut cultivation. The town also actively engages in science education initiatives, emphasizing the role of science in boosting the local economy and focusing on brand development. Efforts are made to improve the technological content of agricultural products and promote branding, including the adoption of new technologies such as soil testing and fertilization. Typically, farmers plant rice, peanuts, and chili peppers in the first half of the year, and after the harvest, they grow water chestnuts in the second half. A crucial practice involves the extensive use of organic fertilizer—farmers apply large amounts of early-season rice straw or peanut plants as base fertilizer in the water chestnut fields, laying a solid foundation for ensuring product quality. Another key factor is the selection and breeding of superior varieties, leading to the establishment of a complete breeding system that has significantly expanded the industry, with the coverage rate of high-quality varieties reaching 100%. In 2005, the town had 976 acres of water chestnut cultivation, yielding 2,608 tons annually with a total output value of nearly 3.96 million yuan. By 2014, the planted area had expanded to 5,000 acres, producing over 15,000 tons with an annual output value of approximately 40 million yuan.

　　Dun'gang is a major agricultural town in Shixing, located just 7 kilometers from the county seat and situated along Provincial Highway 1912. The town has a history of over 300 years in water chestnut cultivation. In recent years, the town has prioritized variety improvement and large-scale planting, with over 15,000 acres under cultivation annually and total production exceeding 30,000 tons. Water chestnut farming has become a leading agricultural industry in the area, and its produce is recognized as a famous local specialty of northern Guangdong.

　　Dun'gang water chestnuts offer great quality at an affordable price, with an average price of around 1,500 yuan per ton. The sales period runs from November each year to August the following year. Merchants are welcome to inquire and place orders.