"A few years ago, do you know why garlic in Qixian County cannot be sold at the same price as garlic in Jinxiang and Pizhou, Shandong?" On November 20th, Han Xinbing, a broker from Jinxiang, Shandong who has been engaged in cultivating garlic seeds for more than 20 years, revealed a secret at the 150 acre garlic excellent new variety cultivation base in Junsheng Family Farm, Shawo Township, Qixian County, Henan. Previously, there were few preferred garlic varieties in Qixian County, slow updates, frequent insect infestations, and low yields. In terms of garlic harvesting time, drying method, and fine processing, Shandong is slightly better than Qi County.
"In recent years, garlic farmers in Qixian have changed their habit of planting fewer garlic varieties, slow updates, and long-term repeated cropping. They have chosen to plant high-quality new varieties, and at the same time, in the production and processing process, unified standards have been established to standardize garlic time, drying methods, and fine processing of garlic types. They have advanced towards' large-scale development, deep processing, and brand building ', making Qixian a renowned garlic hometown both domestically and internationally, polishing the most beautiful foundation of rural revitalization." Huang Zonggang, the county mayor of Qi County People's Government, said.
Scaled development
Qi County has a history of more than 2000 years of garlic cultivation. The unique climate and soil conditions in the area make the garlic produced famous for its large size, round shape, white skin, non scattering, storage resistance, spicy taste, and rich selenium content. In 2001, the garlic planting area was 400000 acres, with an annual production of 600000 tons of garlic; In 2008, the planting area reached 600000 acres and the annual production of garlic was 800000 tons; Since 2020, the planting area has remained stable at 700000 mu, with an annual production of 960000 tons of garlic.
In February 2015, Chinese garlic was blocked in South Korea, sounding an alarm for garlic farmers across the country. The Qixian County Party Committee and Government are focused on the future, facing many challenges such as large market fluctuations, rising labor costs, low product technology content, and insufficient innovation capabilities. Develop green and pollution-free planting to achieve high-quality and high-yield. By implementing regional layout, standardized cultivation, standardized production, and large-scale operation, we aim to improve the quality of garlic production and ensure the high-quality and high-yield development of garlic in Qixian County.
Garlic cultivation in Qi County covers 21 townships, 12 specialized garlic production townships, and more than 300 specialized garlic production villages. It has successfully created a pollution-free base of 110000 mu and a national standardized production base of 400000 mu for green food raw materials. It has been selected as a national catalog of famous and excellent new agricultural products.
"After the only garlic and garlic product quality supervision and inspection center in Henan Province settled in Qi County, it greatly promoted the progress of our county's garlic 'three products and one standard certification' and traceability system construction." Zhang Kaimin, the president of Qi County Garlic Association, introduced that Qi County has formed a comprehensive modern garlic industrial park that integrates green ecological planting, processing, research and development, and trade. It has the largest garlic trading market in China and a relatively complete industrial chain, With an annual trading volume of 2 million tons and a trading amount of 11 billion yuan, it has become an important pillar industry for county economic development and driving rural revitalization.
Deepening processing
"Dig garlic well to prevent exposure to sunlight, ventilate and dry it for four to five days. It's troublesome to get wet in the rain to prevent garlic from becoming moldy and rotten. Cutting garlic is a technical job, leaving the stems in two and three parts each. The roots and whiskers must be cut clean, and the product should look good without wear and tear. If you take it to the market, it will sell for an extra four to five hundred yuan per ton." Liu Lianfeng, a garlic farmer in suburban areas, said in a rhyme, "The benefits of carefully processing fresh garlic.".
Zhang Yunteng, a Yunnan businessman who came to Jinqi Agricultural and Trade Market in Qixian to purchase garlic, said, "I have been purchasing garlic in Qixian for more than 10 years. I have summarized the eight character mnemonic for selecting high-quality garlic, which is' look, hold, weigh, and smell '. High quality garlic is full, with large cloves, hard to hold, heavy to weigh, and no odor."
"To increase the added value of garlic, it is necessary to focus on deep processing, increase capital investment, and enhance the enthusiasm of enterprises to participate in research and development," said Li Gaofei, Director of the R&D Center of Qixian Pan'an Food Co., Ltd.
High end boutique processing, elongating the industrial chain. Several deep processing enterprises in Qixian, led by Pan'an Food, have an annual processing capacity of 400000 tons, ranking first in the province. Their series of products such as garlic slices, garlic rice, garlic puree, garlic powder, and black garlic are popular both domestically and internationally. The 30 production lines constructed by Yuncang-2 have an annual processing capacity of 500000 tons. Meanwhile, utilizing the wastewater generated from garlic processing to extract feed additives effectively promotes industrial circulation and enhances the added value of garlic.
Zhang Yongbo, the head of Henan Garlic Industry Group, said, "There are more than 80 garlic processing enterprises in Qi County, with more than 10 types of processed products. Among them, garlic slices, garlic powder and other products are mostly exported to countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Malaysia, etc. Garlic rice, garlic oil and other products are sold domestically."
Brand building
"How much added value can garlic rice add? What are the special effects of black garlic? What is the flavor of garlic drinks? What is the weight loss effect of garlic essential oil? The industry chain grown from a head of garlic has extended many new brands." Guo Fang, Deputy County Mayor of Qi County People's Government, said that after conducting research in Qi County, Provincial Party Secretary Lou Yangsheng emphasized the need to rely on local resource advantages, use modern biotechnology, and break through the "original brand" and "food brand", Advancing towards "health brand", "medicine brand", and "cosmetics brand" products, and fully focusing on the deep processing of agricultural products, is the direction we strive to develop new brands.
Qi County has cooperated with universities such as China Agricultural University to establish professor workstations, garlic research and development centers, and achievement transformation bases. The research and development achievements of garlic drying technology, garlic biologics, and soil improvement have been widely applied, promoting the green, efficient, and circular development of the garlic industry and enhancing brand effect.
"Qi County currently has over 30 garlic trading markets, more than 130 trading enterprises, and more than 20000 garlic marketing brokers, with an average annual trading volume of 2 million tons and a trading volume of 11 billion yuan." Huang Xuemin, Vice President of Qi County Garlic Association, introduced that garlic sales outlets have been established in 30 large and medium-sized cities in China, directly and indirectly exporting more than 300000 tons of garlic and its products. The products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions such as the Middle East, the European Union, Southeast Asia, and South America, The annual export value is 10 million US dollars, and it has been rated as a national level garlic export quality and safety demonstration zone.
Qi County garlic has been recognized as a national geographical indication product, a demonstration county for pollution-free garlic technology innovation in China, one of the top ten pollution-free counties for fruits and vegetables in China, a hometown of garlic in China, and a demonstration county for garlic industry assistance in rural revitalization in China. Qi County's garlic industry poverty alleviation has been awarded the Best Poverty Reduction Case in the Second Global Poverty Reduction Case Collection Activity.
Dai Jitian, Secretary of the Qixian County Party Committee, confidently stated that "one industry prospers, all industries prosper". Garlic in Qixian has not only boosted farmers' "wallets" and become a "fragrant cake" for achieving wealth and prosperity, but also achieved the reputation of Qixian as the "number one garlic county in the country". Qi County regards the garlic industry as the leading industry for strengthening the county and enriching the people, further polishing the signboard of "China's Garlic Hometown", and promoting the high-quality development of the county's economy with vigorous vitality and unlimited business opportunities.
