Pingguo Pitaya

Pingguo Pitaya

　　Pingguo pitaya is a specialty of Pingguo County in Baise City, Guangxi. The variety of pitaya grown in Pingguo County is relatively sweet and smaller in size.

　　The development of pitaya cultivation in Pingguo County began in 2003. To combat rocky desertification in mountainous areas, promote the restoration of vegetation on barren hills, and increase farmers' income, the county Party committee and the county people’s government implemented the national “Tenth Five-Year Plan” key scientific and technological project—Ecological Reconstruction Technology and Demonstration in Karst Peak-Cluster Depression Areas—by introducing pitaya and conducting trial planting of 24,000 plants in Longhe Village, Buyao, Guhua Town. The trial results showed that pitaya planted in Pingguo’s rocky mountainous regions could yield up to 4,000 jin per mu, with an output value of 12,000 yuan per mu, making it a highly profitable project for farmers in these areas. Practice has proven that the pitaya industry is very suitable for development in karst mountainous regions.

　　In 2011, the county Party committee and government increased support for the pitaya planting project and introduced preferential policies to promote its development. In 2012, in conjunction with the “Party Flag Red in Poverty Alleviation” thematic campaign, and with the fundamental goal of “boosting agricultural efficiency and increasing farmers’ income,” township Party committees and governments responded actively to the call of the county Party committee and government, mobilizing the public to participate in pitaya planting. Significant achievements were made. By 2012, the county had a total of 10,300 mu of pitaya cultivation area.