Progressive Family Farm: Tang Wei-owned Ludian Haozhong Agricultural Company, Yunnan, China

We continue to publish exclusive materials from the WPC (World Potato Congress), telling about the organization of an efficient seed potato production chain in China.

The World Potato Congress will take place from May 31 to June 3 in Dublin, Ireland. The event will bring together professionals including potato growers, wholesalers, packers, importers and exporters of both seed and ware potatoes.

 Collaboration and support for a new family potato farm

Tan Wei’s parents were small-scale potato growers and sold their potatoes and other farmers’ products. Tang Wei graduated in 2012 with a degree in business finance. After working for a year at a construction site for his uncle, in August 2013 he and his parents returned home to the farm.

At the beginning of 2014, he started growing his own potatoes on an area of 30 hectares. I purchased material from local varieties as seeds. The following year, on August 3, 2014, a terrible earthquake struck Ludian County. The relief effort included a donation from TuMaMa of 12 tons of free organic fertilizer.

Tan Wei was fortunate to receive a portion of this subsidy through the Zhaotong City Trade and Industry Association. Thus began his collaboration with TuMaMa. Later that year, he became her fertilizer sales agent in Huo Dehong Township, Ludian County. He started by selling 30 tons to local farmers and used the same amount of fertilizer on his farm.

The business expanded to over 120 tons in the 2nd year and over 300 tons in the 3rd. Tan Wei was looking for an opportunity to quickly expand his parents’ 350-hectare potato business.

TuMaMa organized and co-sponsored the Zhaotong City Government Seed Potato Forum from July 11 to 13, 2016. This event changed the minds of most local forum participants about the potato, turning it from a food crop to a commercial one.

TuMaMa opened up new opportunities for Tang Wei by allocating more land to grow potatoes, marketing his crop, and connecting with various technical experts as well as various levels of local government to promote and purchase his seed potatoes.

TuMaMa helped Tang Wei by guaranteeing almost $300,000 in bank financing in 2016-2017. Tang Wei continues to use TuMaMa’s fertilizers in his agricultural activities and also remains an agent of the firm. Tang Wei, his sister and brother-in-law are only about 30 years old!