-Through train- of vegetables supplied to Hong Kong from Jiangyong, Hunan Province enters the fields

In an exclusive interview, we spoke with Yang Jianping, the manager of a vegetable export base in Datong Village, located in the Songbai Yao Autonomous Township of Jiangyong County, Hunan Province. As the region celebrates a bountiful harvest from its 1,000-acre vegetable base dedicated to supplying Hong Kong, Yang shared insights into the transformation of previously abandoned land into a thriving agricultural hub.

“Right now, our workers are hard at work harvesting vegetables for export,” Yang told us, pointing to neatly arranged mustard greens stacked in baskets. “To ensure the best flavor and appearance, we pick the vegetables in the morning so they can reach the markets in Hong Kong and Macau by evening. We typically ship between three to five tons a day.”

In recent years, the demand for Jiangyong County’s vegetables has skyrocketed, earning them a spot on the dining tables of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Recognizing the promising market, the A-Jun Fruits and Vegetables Cooperative has leased land across Datong and Lianhuagang Villages this year, establishing a high-standard, pollution-free premium vegetable planting demonstration base. By implementing a “cooperative + base + farmer” operational model, they have created job opportunities for over 600 local residents.

To maximize land efficiency, the base has adopted a four-season rotation planting model of “rice + vegetables + vegetables,” which enhances both the yield and quality of crops, thereby boosting agricultural efficiency and farmers’ incomes.

“We use a rice and vegetable rotation system. Each acre of vegetables yields profits of about 2,000 to 3,000 RMB, while rice contributes an additional 800 to 900 RMB per acre. Vegetables have a short growth cycle and high economic returns. In total, our annual vegetable output for Hong Kong and Macau exceeds ten million RMB,” Yang explained.

By actively optimizing its industrial structure, Jiangyong County has significantly advanced the scale, industrialization, and branding of vegetable cultivation. They currently boast 24 certified bases under the Greater Bay Area Vegetable Basket Project and have cultivated a vegetable planting area of 298,000 acres, resulting in a total output of 679,000 tons and a total output value exceeding 2 billion RMB.