A little asparagus took him on the road to prosperity

Li Qizhong made a preliminary processing of newly harvested asparagus.

Li Qizhong, Chairman of Zhongwang asparagus planting Professional Cooperative, Enyang District, Bazhong. In 2010, the attempt to grow green asparagus was one of the first local professional farmers to grow asparagus, but failed because of technical and management problems. In 2014, he started all over again and transferred more than 150 mu of land, leading the villagers on the road to prosperity. In 2016, the first Enyang asparagus Festival was held in Enyang District. Li Qizhong's asparagus won the crown of "King of asparagus" with excellent appearance.

On the morning of May 23, the reporter went to Shangbamiao Town, Enyang District, and the billboard of "the hometown of asparagus" was very eye-catching. After the baptism of the heavy rain the night before, the half-man-tall asparagus seedlings swayed in the wind in the fields. On the ground, the thick head of bamboo shoots with thumbs has grown to more than 20 centimeters, which is the best time for harvest. Li Qizhong and more than a dozen villagers are busy picking and cutting with sickles.

Asparagus paves the way to prosperity

There is a tradition of growing asparagus in Enyang District. When Li Qizhong was young, he was infatuated with the crisp and tender taste and special fragrance of asparagus. In 2010, Li Qizhong tried to grow asparagus, but failed. He worked hard for three years with almost no harvest. Later, he realized that asparagus can be divided into white and green, and there are differences in technology and management between the two.

After this failure, Li Qizhong went to Hunan to study, and Hunan experts also came to Enyang to give lectures. In 2014, Li Qizhong decided to start all over again. He planted asparagus in front and back of his house, and later transferred more than 150 mu of land, leading nine villagers to set up Zhongwang asparagus growing professional cooperatives.

While Li Qizhong was busy in the fields, several tricycles were parked on the side of the road. They were all buyers from the city.

The fresh-harvested asparagus was still sap on the section, so several merchants came to compete for it. "Don't worry, come back tomorrow." Li Qizhong kept persuading. At 11:00 in the afternoon, Li Qizhong received another phone call from a Shanghai customer who asked for 200jin, but the goods had been sold out. He apologized again and again on the phone and said he would do something the next day.

Asparagus, as a green food rich in a variety of amino acids, protein and vitamins, tastes crisp and tender and can be eaten raw or stewed. In recent years, it has become more and more popular. Li Qizhong often faces the dilemma of customer competition, "I can't help it, and sometimes I offend people."

Great development of asparagus industry

"one mu of land can harvest about 1600 jin, with a conservatively estimated income of 8000 yuan, and the economic benefit far exceeds that of traditional crops." Li Qizhong made an account. His success had an exemplary effect in the village, the enthusiasm of the local people was aroused, everyone joined the co-operatives one after another, and the land abandoned for many years was all planted with asparagus.

From Dengwen Village, Shangbamiao Town to the whole territory of Enyang, the planting scale of asparagus is constantly expanding. A small asparagus has grown into the leading agricultural industry in Enyang District. In 2017, Enyang District plans to plant 50, 000 mu of asparagus, eventually forming a planting scale of 100000 mu. Enterprises with a keen sense of smell see the huge business opportunities and rush to Enyang to engage in the deep processing of asparagus.