Small Potatoes Grow into a Big Industry

Li Judong lives in Lujiagou Town of Dingxi City in Gansu Province. In Li’s hometown, the annual precipitation rate is less than 200 mm. However, the evaporation rate is more than ten times that of the precipitation rate. Resultantly, drought-tolerant and easy-to-grow potatoes are an important source of income for local farmers, with traditionally grown potatoes failing to provide the same level of sustainability.

As the chairman of the Dingxi Juxin Forage Cooperative, Li led his cooperative members and other local farmers to participate in the project. Over the past three years, Li has mastered the technicalities of planting technology and planted more than 106.67 ha of zinc-enriched potatoes, owing in large part to the support and guidance of agricultural technicians. Furthermore, his cooperative has also created job opportunities for more than 30 villagers.

More than 500 farmers in Lujiagou have since followed Li’s lead and begun planting zinc-enriched potatoes, achieving a collective planting area of more than 66.67 ha so far. In response to this, Li now considers himself "lucky to be living in such prosperous times where old-fashioned farmers are enabled with new technologies."

Li Judong (front and center) and local farmers are photographed harvesting zinc-enriched potatoes

Dingxi potatoes have therefore gone from being a source of survival to a source of economic growth and health development.

Zinc-enriched technology has ultimately made Dingxi’s potatoes more nutritious and higher in value.

Related Link:

WFP Zinc-Enriched Potatoes Project in Gansu Province

http://www.wfpchinacoe.net/2023-01/09/content_85047510.shtml