Cane shoot planting brings prosperity to farmers in Xingang village, Rudong county, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The cane shoots from Chahe town in Rudong county, Nantong, have ripened and appeared on the market in recent days.

Eight years ago, Chen Bing founded the Yanchuan fruit and vegetable cooperative in Chahe town, and contracted 10 hectares of land in Xingang village for cane shoot planting. Over dozens of years of development, the cane shoots Chen plants have become popular with shoppers.

"The profit per hectare of the cane shoots in spring and summer is about 52,500 yuan ($8,023)," Chen said. "Though the output in the autumn-winter season is expected to exceed the one in spring-summer season, it is still behind demand."

Xingang village has appropriate temperature, convenient irrigation and drainage conditions and unique environmental advantages, which are good for the growth of cane shoots. Coupled with Chen's rich experience, the output of cane shoots per hectare will reach 30,000 kilograms this autumn-winter season.

"Due to climatic differences, the period of local cane shoots going on the market is about 10 days later than those in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui and other regions," Chen said. "Off-peak sales will maximize our benefits."

Chen brings prosperity to not only the growers in the village but also the famers in surrounding areas.

"Whenever it's time to harvest cane shoots, the cooperative needs to call hundreds of people a day to help handle picking and packaging," Guan Zhiyong, a cadre from Xingang village, said. "As the cane shoots ripen twice a year, the surrounding villagers can do the part-time jobs twice a year and have additional income of about 5,000 yuan per person."

To enlarge the cane shoot industry, Chahe town will replan the area according to planting needs, improve operation efficiency, reduce production costs and further realize prosperity.