Green soybeans are a major industry in Nanyang town, Qidong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Green soybeans, the flagship agricultural product of Nanyang town in Qidong, have forged a strong reputation across the region, particularly in the Shanghai market, for their extensive cultivation area, high yields, exceptional quality, and consistent market availability. In recent years, the town has strengthened the integration of production and marketing while cultivating its brand.

In cooperation with the Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the coverage rate of new soybean varieties and cultivation technologies reached 95 percent in the town in 2023. By encouraging leading enterprises to participate in secondary and tertiary industries, the town has seen its value-added income skyrocket from over 50 million yuan ($6.89 million) five years ago to more than 350 million yuan last year.

Additionally, Nanyang town has successfully nurtured multiple renowned brands and established a standardized soybean base covering 40,000 mu (about 2,667 hectares), achieving a 100 percent product pass rate.

Meanwhile, the town has ramped up efforts in cold chain processing, enhancing product quality, and improving commercial logistics. Over the years, the average yield per mu of green soybeans has maintained records of over 750 kilograms of fresh pods and over 175 kilograms of dried beans.

Last year, the total value of the entire industrial chain reached 587 million yuan, accounting for 41 percent of the town's total agricultural output value. This has also helped increase the incomes of 11,300 households, with average household incomes now surpassing 30,000 yuan.