The rice in the paddy fields of Rudong county is now ripe and ready for harvest. [Photo/WeChat account: rudongfb]

Shuangdian town in Rudong county – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – is renowned for producing high-quality rice, especially selenium-rich rice and due to its reputed health benefits, that variety commands a 30-percent premium on the standard price for rice.

Nowadays, the town is pushing to expand its influence as "the hometown of selenium-rich rice" to bring local farmers even more prosperity.

At present, Shuangdian has a rice planting area of about 5,667 hectares, mainly worked by family farms and new cooperative farms.

The Ruikang Family Farm was one of the earliest family farms in town. After more than 10 years of development, relying on large-scale and mechanized planting models, it is said to have revitalized a large amount of idle land. It has also provided efficient planting technologies and jobs for local farm workers, through its achievements.

The processing and marketing of rice is also an important link in the production chain of the industry there. There are 13 rice processing enterprises in the town, with Jiangsu Chenxi Rice Industry, a local company engaged in rice planting, processing and sales.

"We process and sell more than 30,000 tons of rice a year, with an annual output value of 200 million yuan ($31.28 million)," said Yan Guocheng, manager of Chenxi Rice. "In recent years, we've brought employment to nearly 1,000 people in surrounding areas while developing."

At present, Shuangdian town has formed a development path integrating rice production, processing and sales, with over 10,000 people engaged in the lucrative sector. The rice industry in Shuangdian has an annual output value of over 1.2 billion yuan, making it a success story and one of the town's pillar industries.