Pesticide-free Chinese cabbage

Pesticide-free Chinese cabbage

　　Pesticide-free Chinese cabbage: Pingfang District, a suburban area of Harbin City, comprises two towns, 11 villages, and 28 natural hamlets, with a total arable land area of 67,483 mu, 6,705 agricultural households, and an agricultural population of 23,065. The per capita income is 3,697 yuan. Pingfang District has over a decade of experience in growing autumn Chinese cabbage. Over the years, the production of autumn Chinese cabbage has become one of the district’s key agricultural industries. The cultivation area has consistently remained above 10,000 mu annually, accounting for one quarter of the city’s total cultivation area. Total annual output reaches 40 million kilograms, making up one third of the city’s total production. Autumn Chinese cabbage is typically available on the market from September 25 to October 30.

To further adjust the agricultural structure, Pingfang District has identified the production of pesticide-free vegetables as a primary focus, aiming to establish a "Pingfang" brand for pesticide-free vegetables. Starting in 2001, Pingfang District began producing pesticide-free Chinese cabbage on 2,500 mu of land. By 2002, the area had expanded to 5,600 mu, and in 2003, plans were made to cultivate 10,000 mu of pesticide-free Chinese cabbage across the district’s two towns and 11 villages. To strengthen the development of pesticide-free Chinese cabbage production bases, a management organization was established for the Ministry of Agriculture’s 10,000-mu pesticide-free Chinese cabbage production base, with designated personnel assigned to oversee operations. A networked management system involving the district, towns, villages, and farmers was put in place, ensuring comprehensive monitoring throughout the entire process—from land preparation, fertilization, and seeding to field management and pest control. Farmer production records are maintained, and strict adherence to the NY5003-2001 standards for pesticide-free Chinese cabbage production is enforced. Production follows the “Pesticide-Free Chinese Cabbage Production Technical Regulations,” with tight controls on the use of highly toxic and high-residue pesticides. The promotion of bio-pesticides and low-toxicity, low-residue pesticides is encouraged. A pesticide residue testing station for pesticide-free Chinese cabbage has been set up to conduct rigorous inspections, ensuring the quality of the “Pingfang” brand pesticide-free Chinese cabbage. The “Pingfang” brand pesticide-free Chinese cabbage is widely sold in regions such as Shandong, Dalian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Tianjin, enjoying a high level of recognition.