State Grid's services increase sweetness of grapes

On Tuesday, in Baidi town, Xuancheng county, Xuancheng, Anhui province, State Grid Xuancheng Power Supply Company organized the Communist Party member service team to conduct inspections and maintenance on electric facilities at the Jiabao Grape Vineyard.

The Jiabao Grape Vineyard covers an area of 6.67 hectares, with grape varieties including Kyoho, Golden Finger, Summer Black, Sunshine Rose, as well as fruits such as kiwi, strawberries and figs. During this period every year, the service team will visit the grape base for electrical inspections.

"This year, we have covered more than 3,000 bags, and we will be able to harvest by the end of July," said Wang Jiabao, owner of the grape vineyard. "Grapes are quite delicate and need perfect temperature, light and humidity, all of which rely on electricity."

Wang said the most important aspect of grape cultivation is to ensure a stable power supply because electricity helps address irrigation needs during summer droughts. "Although there has been abundant rainfall this year, we still need to use water pumps daily when the weather gets hot," Wang added.

Several years ago, due to a child's illness and financial difficulties, Wang's family was identified as an impoverished household by the government. To ensure the vineyard's electricity supply for production and help increase the income of Jiabao Grape Vineyard, the Communist Party member service team provided voluntary electricity services, which ensured the safe operation of distribution lines and equipment.

With policy support and sufficient electricity, Jiabao Grape Vineyard has been thriving. The grapes from the vineyard have not only obtained organic agricultural product and green food certifications but have also won awards at quality fruit exhibitions in Xuancheng city and Anhui province. The grape yield has been increasing steadily. Jiabao Grape Vineyard produced around 30 metric tons of grapes last year, generating an annual income of nearly 300,000 yuan ($41,257). It successfully alleviated Wang's family out of poverty.

Currently, Jiabao Grape Vineyard's reputation is growing. During the grape season, the vineyard is crowded with buyers. Jiabao Grape Vineyard has set up shop on the Taobao platform for online sales. It is exporting grapes to cities such as Shanghai and some areas in Jiangsu province.

In 2024, the State Grid Xuancheng Power Supply Company has continued to upgrade its services for agriculture, rural areas and farmers. They have conducted multiple electrical safety inspections in representative planting areas within their jurisdiction, gaining a detailed understanding of agricultural industry development plans and electricity demands. They have installed and upgraded a total of six transformers and increased the power supply capacity by 1,800 kilovolt-amperes for local characteristic rural industries.