Zunyi City to establish a 4 million-mu bioenergy raw material base

Thread Content

Zunyi City will establish a 4 million-mu base for bioenergy raw materials. In order to extend the agricultural value chain, expand the deep processing of agricultural products, and create new sources of economic growth for local finances and farmers’ incomes, Zunyi City will increase support for the potato industry. It plans to develop a 4 million-mu base for virus-free potato cultivation over a period of 5 years, set up two production lines for aldehyde powder and fuel ethanol, and thus establish a relatively large-scale domestic base for bioenergy raw materials. 　　Potatoes have a long history of cultivation in Zunyi City. Currently, the area dedicated to their cultivation (including intercropping and relay cropping) amounts to over 4.5 million mu, of which 1.5 million mu is devoted to sweet potatoes and 2.5 million mu to potatoes. The yield from these crops accounts for a significant proportion of the city’s total grain production. Zunyi City has clear natural and climatic advantages, ecological resource advantages, and cultivation technology advantages for developing the potato industry. However, due to long-term decentralized and unregulated planting, potato varieties have severely degraded, resulting in low yields and poor quality. The city’s capabilities in processing and market development are weak, and the degree of commercialization is low; as a result, its resource advantages are difficult to transform into economic and market advantages. In recent years, some areas in Zunyi City have introduced virus-free sweet potatoes and potatoes for planting trials and demonstrations, achieving initial success. To date, 50,000 mu of virus-free sweet potatoes and 750,000 mu of virus-free potatoes have been cultivated in the city, and farmers’ income per mu has increased by more than 300 yuan compared to conventional planting. 　　To develop potatoes as a new industry in Zunyi City and as a source of raw materials for bioenergy, to establish modern ecological and circular agriculture, and to quickly build up large-scale production and processing capabilities for potatoes, thereby boosting agricultural efficiency, increasing grain output, and raising farmers’ incomes. The city has decided to take 5 years to increase the area of virus-free potato planting bases in Zunyi from the current 800,000 mu to 4 million mu. Among them, the area of virus-free sweet potatoes increased from 50,000 mu to 2 million mu, with an annual output of 5 million tons of fresh potatoes and an economic value of 4 billion yuan; the area of virus-free potatoes increased from 750,000 mu to 2 million mu. At the same time, production capacities of 50,000 tons of potato starch and 300,000 tons of ethanol fuel will be established, and by 2010, two production lines for aldehyde powder and fuel ethanol with corresponding capacities will be built. Recently, the city’s ** authorities have introduced relevant supporting policies to provide support to the potato industry in terms of funding, policies, and projects, thereby actively fostering its development. A coordination leadership group for the potato industry was established, with the deputy mayor in charge of relevant affairs serving as its head. Agencies such as the city’s agricultural office, as well as departments responsible for agriculture, animal husbandry, development and reform, rural enterprises, finance, land resources, science and technology, agricultural machinery, trade, and finance, all participate in this group. Its role is to coordinate and address a range of issues related to the development of potato production, including policy support, technical services, supply of high-quality seeds, and processing and production. The construction of this bioenergy raw material base will be carried out in accordance with the principles of \"market orientation and priority given to efficiency,\" as well as an operational approach that involves \"guidance, institutional support, and enterprise management.\"