Cress planting not only brings prosperity to planters, but also increases local villagers' income. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Cress is a distinctive agricultural product of Jinxiangang village in Jinsha sub-district, Tongzhou district. In 2001, the trademark of "Jinxiangang" was registered and cress was recognized as a pollution-free agricultural product by the provincial agricultural department.

As the Wanqing Liangtian project – a high-quality rice production base – and the Flower Town project were developed, Jinsha sub-district invested 2.5 million yuan ($386,745) and set up a cress base to the north of Wanqing Liangtian to protect the traditional crop. Thirteen farmers who used to plant cress in Jinxiangang village moved to the new site and planted some 13 hectares of cress.

Liu Yongjie, one of the 13 planters, grew some 1.5 hectares in 2020. He said that due to the cold weather, the annual output was only 4,000 kilograms, with a double price over the previous year.

"This year's trade price is 5.2 yuan per kg while last year's was only half," Liu said with happiness. "Half of the total output has been sold, and the rest will be sold out by Mid-March, so my net income will be 50 percent higher than the previous year."

Jinxiangang cress has had booming production and sales for many years, earning quite a high reputation and solid market share in Nantong. It is also sold to medium and large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou.

Cress planting not only brings prosperity to planters, but also increases local villagers' income.

Locals who are free during the harvest season are hired as day laborers to pick and package the cress.