Qionghai develops characteristic agricultural products

Tourists enjoy Wenquan goose at the Duohe Culture Valley, Qionghai. [Photo/Hainan Daily]

Many visitors gathered at Jiaji town in Qionghai city on Aug 26 just to taste the local specialty Wenquan goose as an expert review meeting for the city's title of "Chinese Hometown of Wenquan Goose" was just finishing.

Situated at the east of Hainan province, Qionghai is called the homeland of many agricultural products such as pepper, wax apples, guava, pitaya, and oil tea, which result from its gentle weather and fertile land.

According to Chen Tao, a member of the standing committee of the Qionghai municipal Party committee, the city will improve the quality of agricultural products with an aim to gain influence at home and abroad. 

Through use of packing designs, advertisements and marketing methods, the local government also plans to embellish the Boao Forum with Qionghai characteristics.

Qionghai has a total area of 100 square kilometers available for fruit cultivation. Plantations of tropical products measure more than 667 square kilometers and the output of poultry exceeds 20 million annually.

Meanwhile, the agricultural industries of oil tea, wax apples, peppers, pomegranates, Jiaji ducks, Wenquan geese, lemons, jackfruits, cherry tomatoes, and rice have all shown steady growth.

Wang Yi, director of the bureau of animal husbandry in Qionghai, said the yearly output of Wenquan geese -- a typical local agricultural product -- is one million, generating revenue of 180 million yuan ($26.4 million).　

To benefit farmers with more profits in the agricultural field, the local government plans to build five agricultural product brands including oil tea, wax apple, pepper, the Jiaji duck and the Wenquan goose.

In 2018, Qionghai will establish production bases, promote technological innovations, register trademarks, and improve designs and marketing to enhance the brand images of these products. A steady increase in output and standardized production is expected by 2020.

The famous Qionghai characteristic cuisine consists of duck meat, greens, duck soup in coconut shells and rice balls. All food is served on a knitted bamboo tray and eaten by hand. [Photo/Hainan Daily]