Technology boosts strawberry farming in Suqian

The application of technologies has driven the development of the strawberry farming industry in Suyu District of Suqian City in Jiangsu Province.

Wang Lihui, a strawberry farmer in the district’s Xinzhuang Farm, and his wife were busy loading fresh berries from the field on truck for distribution to supermarkets and stores.

Wang said the farm’s new operation model and use of technology have increased strawberry yield and prices.

This model supported by Yu Hongmei, a specialist from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, grows strawberries in raised beds to maximize the harvest, reduce the labor intensity, and also make picking easy.

Yu said that Xinzhuang Farm is home to ten varieties of strawberry grown on an area of 5,000 mu (333 hectares). The farm also provides employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to more than 200 villagers, allowing them to increase the annual income of over 20,000 yuan.

To support the strawberry farming industry, the district has strengthened cooperation with research institutes, which will send designated professionals to help farmers and adopt new techniques.