Longba Loquat

Longba Loquat

　　In response to challenges such as weak water conservancy infrastructure in loquat orchards and the relatively low scientific and cultural literacy of local residents, the Party Committee and government of Longba Town incorporated the cultivation and development of the loquat industry into the planning for the 11th Five-Year Plan period. They secured national project funding and quickly gained support from various higher-level departments. Currently, multiple projects aimed at developing the loquat industry are under application and implementation.

Longba Town is a typical agricultural area combining mountainous and flatland features, boasting unique natural vertical climates and land resources that are highly conducive to developing eco-agriculture and green economy. For many years, the town’s economy has relied heavily on primary industries such as sugarcane and rice. Due to a single and unbalanced industrial structure, progress in increasing agricultural efficiency and farmers’ incomes has been slow. To optimize the agricultural structure, Longba Town began introducing loquat cultivation in 2001. The loquats grown here exhibit better adaptability, flavor, and quality than those from their place of origin, and their fresh fruit supply period falls during the off-season for most fruits—earning high praise from consumers and resulting in strong demand, with the produce being sold both within and outside the province. The high-quality fruit has brought tangible benefits to local farmers, making loquat their “money tree.” At present, with strong advocacy from the Longba Town Party Committee and government, loquat planting has expanded from Hudao Village Committee to surrounding villages and communities, quickly developing into a contiguous planting base covering over 5,000 acres. To meet the needs of scaled production and market economics, Longba Town also established a village-level economic association—the Loquat Association. Members join according to the association's charter and directly elect its leadership, with all members participating jointly in management.

According to Wang Xinyan, a local villager, his family planted 5 acres of loquat in 2001. By 2004, the trees began to bear fruit, and by 2005, the net income per acre reached around 1,000 yuan. In 2006, it rose to 4,000 yuan, and this year it has reached 6,000 yuan. Encouraged by the profits from loquat farming, in 2006 he expanded his planting to 10 additional acres on top of the original 5. Based on current market prices, by 2010 his family’s annual net income from loquats alone is expected to reach approximately 60,000 yuan. Today, Hudao Village has become a well-known loquat-producing village. Villagers rely on loquat farming to cover expenses such as children’s education, building new houses, and weddings. During the loquat harvest season, the gravel road leading to the village sees a continuous stream of merchants coming to buy the fruit. Inspired by Hudao Village, the entire Longchuan County has vigorously developed loquat cultivation. According to incomplete statistics, by 2007, the county’s loquat cultivation had reached 4,267 acres, including 1,286 acres in Hudao Village alone.

In response to challenges such as weak water conservancy infrastructure in loquat orchards and the relatively low scientific and cultural literacy of local residents, the Party Committee and government of Longba Town incorporated the cultivation and development of the loquat industry into the planning for the 11th Five-Year Plan period. They secured national project funding and quickly gained support from various higher-level departments. Currently, multiple projects related to the loquat industry are under application and implementation. The Party Committee and government of Longchuan County have proposed an industrial development plan stating, “During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, centered on Longba Town, establish a 20,000-acre fresh loquat industry base.” The implementation of this development plan will make the loquat industry in Longba Town a new highlight in adjusting the county’s economic and industrial structure, as well as in boosting county fiscal revenue, enhancing agricultural output, and increasing farmers’ incomes.