Nanjiang Potatoes

Nanjiang Potatoes

　　Nanjiang Potatoes are an important traditional and distinctive industry in Nanjiang County, with a long history of cultivation. Potatoes are a significant traditional crop in Bazhong City. Due to their strong resistance to natural disasters and dual use as both food and fodder, they have long been an essential crop for local farmers across the vast Daba Mountains. In 1932, after the Fourth Front Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army strategically shifted westward from Hubei, Henan, and Anhui to Bazhong, they fought bravely to establish the Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base Area, centered around Tong, Nan, Ba, and Ping. This region was referred to by Chairman Mao Zedong as “the second-largest base of the Chinese Soviet Republic.” During the arduous battles, “Nanjiang Potatoes” served as military rations for the Red Army and made a tremendous contribution to the victory of the revolution. Over the years, through the continuous efforts of various levels of party committees, governments, and agricultural experts, the planting area, total yield, and per-unit yield of Nanjiang Potatoes have increased year by year. The varieties have gradually expanded to include both vegetable-use and processing types. In 2009, the provincial Department of Agriculture designated Nanjiang County as one of the 52 key potato seed breeding demonstration counties in the province. In recent years, relying on the Nanjiang Potato Original Seed Project, the county has vigorously promoted high-yield potato cultivation initiatives. It has expanded the promotion of virus-free, high-quality Nanjiang Potato seeds and improved production standards. Focusing on high-yield initiatives and aiming for scaled, standardized, and industrialized development, the county has actively introduced, demonstrated, and tested new technologies, materials, and varieties. Efforts have also been intensified to integrate, innovate, and promote high-yield cultivation systems, while establishing concentrated, high-yield demonstration zones, exhibition lines, and radiation areas. Technical training and guidance have been strengthened, significantly enhancing the overall production capacity and market competitiveness of Nanjiang Potatoes. Currently, Nanjiang Potatoes are planted on a permanent area of 240,000 mu, with a total annual yield of up to 360,000 metric tons and an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan. They make an important contribution to increasing farmers’ income, boosting agricultural efficiency, and ensuring stable growth in grain production throughout the county.