Ginger city snaps into shape

Black garlic developed by Laiwu Yuyuan Foods Co Ltd has been sold to European countries and Japan. [Photo / China Daily]

Up to 6,000 hectares of land in Laiwu are now managed by the ginger companies.

"Improvements in farm management practices and pest and disease management significantly improve productivity and profitability of companies," says Xie of the bureau.

Wang Bo, deputy general manager with Laiwu Dunsunrise Foods Co Ltd, which has acquired 1,330 hectares of land for ginger cultivation, elaborates.

"On our land, we can control the whole process of ginger production, from planting to packaging. We know how to conduct crop rotation to help the soil to recover, how to choose seeds and how to control pests and diseases."

The strict quality control system has won companies global certificates, which are key to boosting business overseas, Xie says.

Six companies in the city have been awarded Good Agricultural Practices certification by the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group. And 60 companies have passed Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point verification.

Companies have also received certification by the British Retail Consortium, IFS and the kosher food market.

Much of this success is because of Laiwu's ginger industry being underpinned by sound research and development work, Xie says.

The research includes field trials to increase production through improved planting techniques, nutrition and pest and disease control. It also focuses on genetic improvement, selection of superior cultivars and development of processed products.

Xie says yellow rot, which attacks the seed after planting, is the most common disease the plant and its producers face. It can wipe out a third of a crop.

"Our technology ensures that less than 5 percent of the ginger planted in Laiwu is affected by yellow rot," Xie says.

Each year the local government organizes agricultural experts to train growers in planting skills, such as how to build suitable greenhouses, how to prevent yellow rot, what kind of fertilizers to use and when to irrigate.

"The skills I learnt not only ensure my ginger meets the pesticide residue standards but also increases my productivity," says Gao Yubo, 42, a farmer from Xiagu village.

Gao dedicates all his 4 mu (0.26 hectares) of farmland to ginger cultivation, which earned him 100,000 yuan last year.

Laiwu has 12 organizations focusing on research and development in the ginger industry. More than 50 companies have laboratories.