Dried fig products made by Guyixin Fig Plantation in Rugao, Nantong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The Guyixin Fig Plantation, the most extensive fig cultivation base in the Yangtze River Delta region, is experiencing a bountiful harvest season across its 53-hectare fig farm in the Rucheng sub-district, Rugao.

The plantation, known for its meticulous production process, turns freshly picked figs into dried products, yielding 2-3 metric tons daily, and accounting for 15 percent of the national market share.

The plantation features 31 varieties of figs, including the high-yield, sweet-tasting Balaui variety, introduced in Japan in 2015. This variety is ideal for processing into dried figs and dietary fiber bars due to its thin skin and rich nutritional content. In 2022, the plantation also developed a new variety, Ningcai, known for its unique yellow-green striped skin, high yield, and excellent taste.

Guyixin focuses on fig sapling cultivation and sales, unlike other fig producers. The plantation's management, led by Chen Ning, emphasizes scientific cultivation techniques and eco-friendly practices. Using biogas slurry from local livestock farms as fertilizer helps maintain soil health and reduces reliance on chemical treatments.

Chen's efforts to extend the fig harvest season until November and explore off-season fig production aim to increase market availability year-round. Last year, the plantation generated sales of 6 million yuan ($845,070) and plans to expand the plantation to nearly 200 hectares within the next two to three years to capture 50 percent of the national dried fig market.

Through innovative cultivation and marketing strategies, Guyixin is leading the way in transforming Rugao's fig industry into a major player on the national stage.