Seafood is harvested in Qidong, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Qidong in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has been focusing on developing its local agricultural products, including marine products, crops and vegetables, generating more than 8 billion yuan ($1.15 billion) in sales.

The city exports porphyra yezoensis, a type of local seaweed, to Japan and South Korea, generating more than $50 million in annual output.

The city also extended its seafood industrial chain. The shrimp balls and scallops processed and exported by Jinghaishen Aquaculture Company last year were worth of 60 million yuan.

The city takes advantage of its suitable climate and abundant rain to plant and process broad beans, edamame, peas, corn and other crops over a large area, with an annual output value of more than 800 million yuan.

Traditional local specialties in the city, such as goat, chicken, yam, taro, white lentil, and green eggplant, are popular among residents of neighboring cities such as Shanghai.

Government departments help farmers register trademarks, establish standards and carry out group production and large-scale sales, increasing villagers' incomes and leading to over 200 million yuan in total sales last year.