Li Mingsi, secretary of the Party committee of Qinglongqiao community and disabled planters make preparations for the spring ploughing. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The science and technology plantation for the disabled in the Qinglongqiao community in Chongchuan district – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – has done a great job in spring ploughing preparations and other work over the past few days, to lay a solid foundation for this year's grape harvest.

Li Mingsi, secretary of the Party committee of the community, explained some of the misunderstandings as well as management pointers in grape cultivation – based on years of personal technical experience, investigation and studies – and passed them on to the disabled planters at the grapery, to help them develop their own practical grape-planting techniques.

"When growing grape seedlings, it is necessary to choose a plot with convenient drainage and irrigation, good soil fertility, good ventilation and good light," Li explained.

The disabled people who work the soil at the plantation, appreciate what it brings to their lives.

"Ever since I worked in this plantation, I have a stable income every month. I can even get dividends at the end of the year if the harvest is good," said Li Hanlin, a disabled person who has become one of the key staff.

All the hard work has paid off. The Qinglongqiao Grape has become a leading agricultural brand, as well as helping the disabled in Nantong's main urban area in recent years. The grapery currently has a planting area of 40,000 square meters and has adopted a trading mode which combines online and offline shopping to expand its marketing channels.

Plans are for the science and technology plantation for the disabled to be further upgraded. Intelligent constant temperature greenhouses will be added to provide a good environment for the grapes.

In addition, the Party committee of Qinglongqiao community will introduce more measures to help lead the disabled to prosperity and give them a better-off life by creating more jobs, providing more vocational training and increasing the proportion of dividends for the disabled.