Production of green pepper seedlings in full swing in county in N China's Shanxi

Dubbed as the hometown of green peppers in China, Zhangzi county, Changzhi city in north China's Shanxi Province is busy producing seedlings of the vegetable.

A grower holds a tray of seedlings. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Zhangzi county)

A planting base of Huimin Agriculture Technology Development Co. Ltd. in Jiaoli village, Dabaotou township is receiving many residents of rural households who come here to purchase the seedlings. "Farmers of a dozen villages nearby, together with those from neighboring counties, come here to buy seedlings. The first batch of orders this year includes over 5 million seedlings. And our base produces nearly 500,000 seedlings a day," said Wang Yun, an executive of the planting base. "Our high-quality seedlings boast of a high survival rate, and therefore sell very well," Wang Yun added.

"I've been engaged in greenhouse vegetable production for more than a decade, and I buy seedlings from the company every year, because I trust the quality of the seedlings here," said Wang Jianjun, a grower from Danzhu township of the county. Planning to plant 8 mu (0.53 hectares) of green peppers this year, the man bought over 30,000 seedlings.

Workers sort green pepper seedlings in a planting base of Huimin Agriculture Technology Development Co. Ltd. in Jiaoli village, Dabaotou township, Zhangzi county, Changzhi city, north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Zhangzi county)

The base has also kicked off the production of a second batch of seedlings. Workers on the product line replace weak seedlings with new ones to ensure all of the seedlings are in good condition. Wang Yun said the planting base will expand capacity to satisfy the needs of pepper growers of the whole county, and aims to cultivate more than 10 million seedlings this year.

The planting base also offers job opportunities to local people. Huo Yanqin, a local villager, has been working here for two years, mainly performing tasks such as cultivating, managing the seedlings and fertilizing them. "I earn 80 yuan ($10.19) a day," she said, adding that as she works near her home, she can take care of her family.

"Dabaotou township will work to expand capacity, improve the quality of the planting sector, and tap the potential of the green pepper industry," said Wang Dong, governor of the township.

Workers cultivate green pepper seedlings on a production line in a planting base of Huimin Agriculture Technology Development Co. Ltd. in Jiaoli village, Dabaotou township, Zhangzi county, Changzhi city, north China's Shanxi Province. (Photo courtesy of the media convergence center of Zhangzi county)