The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs honored hundreds of towns and villages with the announcement of three lists on Nov 10: the 11th group of 399 national "one village, one specialty" demonstration villages, the 2021 national list of 174 towns with characteristic industries worth 1 billion yuan ($156.9 million), and the list of 249 villages with characteristic industries worth 100 million yuan.

The village of Zhouwu, located in the county-level city of Hai'an in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, was recognized as a national "one village, one specialty" demonstration village for its flower and seedling industry.

Zhouwu introduced North American Begonias and other high-grade seedlings and flowers, to help local farmers increase their income. Over 70 percent of local agricultural land is now used for seedling and flower cultivation, generating an annual output value of nearly 30 million yuan.

Local farmers work at the seedling and flower base in Zhouwu village in Hai'an, on Oct 25. [Photo by Gu Huaxia/WeChat account: ntjhwb]

The village of Guangming, situated in Libao town in Hai'an, was rated as a national village with a characteristic industry worth 100 million yuan. It is a key village for vegetable production in Nantong, with a plantation area covering more than 466 hectares. By virtue of its efficient growing techniques, the average benefit per hectare has now reached 240,000 yuan.

At present, Guangming has 12 vegetable wholesale markets, two specialized cooperatives with more than 300 members, and has helped over 1,700 rural households increase their income. In 2020, its annual agricultural output value hit 120 million yuan. The per capita net income of local farmers exceeded 25,000 yuan.

Vegetables photographed inside a greenhouse in the village of Guangming, Hai'an [Photo/WeChat account: ntjhwb]