Ruzhou’s “Shi Liu flower and fruit mountain” produces “fruits of prosperity” – a model of rural revitalization in Henan Province

Ruzhou: The much-anticipated list of the first “Yu Nong You Pin” trademark users was recently released, showcasing high-quality agricultural products from Henan Province. Among them, the Shibo Ecological Agriculture Soft-Seed Pomegranate Production Base in Ruzhou City stood out as a shining example of high-quality agricultural development in the region.

On December 17, the “A Thousand Villages, A Thousand Faces – Meeting You in Henan” rural revitalization series brought its interview team to Ruzhou. The team visited Shibo Ecological Park, located in Shuigou Village, Jiaocun Town.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Hunan native Dai Kaihua and his wife, Li Caixia, the ecological park has grown from a modest start in 2014 with 608 acres to its current size of 2,000 acres. The park has achieved remarkable milestones, including recognition as a Green Food Demonstration Base in Henan Province and obtaining China’s first Ecological Origin Product Protection Certificate for the pomegranate industry in November 2019.

Today, the park is home to over 200,000 soft-seed pomegranate trees, producing an annual yield of 1.5 million pounds of pomegranates with a market value of nearly 30 million yuan. The “Shi Liu Flower and Fruit Mountain” brand has become a flagship agricultural product for Ruzhou City.

Li Caixia, General Manager of Shibo Ecological Agriculture Development Co., highlighted the unique qualities of their soft-seed pomegranates: large and juicy seeds, a transparent and crisp texture, a sweet and refreshing taste, and vibrant, attractive colors. These characteristics make them easy to store and transport. For several consecutive years, national authorities have certified the fruits as meeting all standards for pesticide and heavy metal residue.

In 2014, Li Caixia and her husband returned to their hometown of Shuigou Village in Ruzhou City after working elsewhere. Inspired by the local environment, they decided to transform the largely abandoned hillside land into a pomegranate orchard.

Over the past decade, the couple has invested 33 million yuan to establish a 2,000-acre ecological pomegranate base. This venture has grown into a modern agricultural enterprise that integrates ecological planting of soft-seed pomegranates and seedless grapes with the breeding and sales of wild geese and black chickens under the orchard canopy. The base generates an annual revenue of over 10 million yuan.

Li emphasized their commitment to eco-friendly and sustainable farming. Using methods like “grass cultivation throughout the orchard, geese for weed control, chickens for pest control, biological pest management, mechanical stubble clearing, and green grass mulching,” they have eliminated the need