As spring returns to the land and the agricultural season intensifies, Xujia Township in Sinan County, Tongren City, Guizhou Province, has entered the critical period for sweet potato seedling cultivation. Seizing the favorable conditions of rising temperatures and optimal soil moisture, local farmers are methodically carrying out spring plowing work—selecting seed tubers, preparing seedbeds, and watering. In Pujiazhai Village, the育苗基地 (seedling base) buzzes with activity as villagers work in coordinated teams. Experienced farmers emphasize that high-quality seed tubers, free from disease and with plump sprouts, are the foundation for strong seedlings. With careful soil management, these seedlings will be ready for transplanting in just over a month.
In 2026, Xujia Township has integrated itself into the county’s broader sweet potato industry development plan. Leveraging local policy support, the township plans to plant 3,800 mu (approximately 253 hectares) of “dual-high” sweet potatoes (high-yield and high-quality) across 14 villages. The 90 tons of seed tubers required for this ambitious plan have already been fully distributed. The township has adopted an innovative development model—”cooperatives + large-scale growers + bases + farmers”—that brings together scattered smallholders into a standardized, large-scale production framework. This approach is expected to generate more than 11,000 local work opportunities annually, allowing villagers to increase their incomes without leaving their homes.
With strong policy backing and stable market demand for sweet potatoes, local growers are approaching the season with enthusiasm and confidence. Looking ahead, Xujia Township will continue to strengthen support services, ensuring the availability of agricultural supplies, facilitating connections between production and sales, and guiding farmers in water and nutrient management as well as pest control during the seedling stage. Today, these humble sweet potato seedlings have become “seedlings of hope,” driving the transformation of sweet potatoes from a small-scale crop into a major industry that supports rural revitalization and improves the livelihoods of local communities.
