Liu Yongjie, a planter in Jinsha sub-district in Tongzhou, shows some cress. [Photo/WeChat account: jstzrb]

Cress – the very popular edible herb in China – is a leading agricultural product of Jinxiangang village in Jinsha sub-district, located in the Tongzhou district of Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province.

In 2001, the trademark "Jinxiangang" was registered and its cress was recognized as a pollution-free agricultural product by the provincial agricultural department.

As the local Wanqing Liangtian project – a high-quality rice production base – and a Flower Town project were developed, Jinsha sub-district invested 2.5 million yuan ($391,371) and set up a 13-hectare cress plantation base to the north of Wanqing Liangtian to protect the traditional crop.

He Xinxin, general Party branch secretary of Jinxiangang village, said that the Jinsha sub-district built infrastructure such as a pump station, channels and roads and reduced contract fees to boost the enthusiasm of planters and at present, 15 are working there.

Liu Yongjie, one of them, grew over 3 ha of cress this year. On Nov 16, he delivered 750 kilograms of cress at a trade price of 3.6-4 yuan per kg.

"We started planting cress in 1971. The cadre designated to help us get rid of poverty decided to introduce cress from Baoying county in Yangzhou, in Jiangsu province, after investigation," Liu said.

"I tried to grow some at first and from 1980, I started growing it in a big way".

In order to further raise their profile, the professional cress technology association of Jinxiangang is preparing to apply for geographical indication certification for its agricultural products. A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products – in an effective international system backed by the World Trade Organization – that have a specific place of origin and possess high qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin, like champagne in France.

Ni Xiaoyan, deputy head of the Jinsha sub-district agriculture and rural affairs bureau, said that Jinxiangang had a cress planting history of 50 years. Moving forward, he said they will provide the association with guidance to apply for the GI, help renew the traditional industry and increase farmers' incomes.