In Zhangjiachuan County’s Liujia Village, farmers are busy planting virus-free potato seed tubers, marking the start of a promising growing season. The process is highly systematic: workers carefully cut seed potatoes into uniform pieces, treat them with disease-resistant chemicals, and use precision machinery for planting. Agricultural technicians oversee every step, ensuring optimal seed selection, planting depth, and row spacing for maximum yield.
Investment in Advanced Infrastructure
The county’s $7 million (approx. 50 million CNY) virus-free potato seed production base includes state-of-the-art facilities:
- Tissue culture labs for disease-free seedlings
- Climate-controlled storage for seed preservation
- Greenhouses and net houses for high-quality propagation
- Mechanized planting systems for efficiency
This infrastructure supports a full production chain: from tissue-cultured seedlings → mini-tubers (G1) → certified seed (G2) → commercial potatoes.
Boosting Yields and Farmer Incomes
Zhangjiachuan’s “company + cooperative + village collective + farmer” model has significantly increased local incomes. In 2024, the county expects:
- 13,000+ hectares of potato cultivation
- 8 million+ virus-free seedlings planted
- 1,700+ tons of mini-tubers (G1) produced
- 6,000+ tons of certified seed (G2) distributed
To enhance productivity, farmers are adopting:
✔ Disease-resistant, high-yield varieties
✔ Ridge-furrow plastic mulch cultivation
✔ Full mechanization (from planting to harvest)
A Blueprint for Sustainable Agriculture
Zhangjiachuan’s success demonstrates how technology, policy support, and cooperative farming can revolutionize potato production. By integrating advanced breeding, precision agriculture, and market-driven approaches, smallholder farmers achieve higher profitability while ensuring food security.
As these “golden potatoes” drive rural prosperity, the model offers valuable lessons for agronomists, farm owners, and policymakers worldwide.
