The Liangping pomelo, recognized alongside the Shatian pomelo from the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and the Wendan pomelo from Fujian province, is celebrated as one of the country's top pomelo varieties. In recognition of its prominence, Liangping was declared a "Hometown of Famous Chinese Pomelos" in 2004.
Liu Wenyang, deputy head of Liangping, highlighted the economic impact of the pomelo industry at the opening ceremony of a recent event, stating, "The annual production value of the entire pomelo industry chain has reached 5 billion yuan" (717 million USD).
The district boasts a pomelo cultivation area of 10,000 hectares with over 100 standardized orchards, housing more than eight million trees. These orchards produce 200,000 metric tons of pomelos annually. Liangping also supports over 70 social service organizations and 20 processing enterprises dedicated to the pomelo industry.
International interest in the Liangping pomelo has been growing, as evidenced by the attendance of envoys from nine countries, including Argentina, Cambodia, and Germany, at the 2024 Land-Sea Economic Forum held in the municipality. These envoys expressed interest in exploring international cooperation opportunities during their visit to the Chinese Liangping Pomelo Sea.
The pomelo has found markets in Russia, Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. In Hexing township's Longtan village, over 40 years of dedication to pomelo cultivation has led to the establishment of Chongqing Youzhiyun Agricultural Development Co. This venture focuses on marketing fresh pomelo fruit and its processed products, including beverages, wine, and peel candies.
Through this industry, local villagers have seen significant economic benefits. The average income from pomelo farming has increased by approximately 1,075 USD per hectare, with an annual per capita income boost of about 2,725 USD. Furthermore, the village's collective income has grown from 8,029 USD in 2018 to 232,290 USD in the last year.
To further enhance pomelo quality and yield, a strategic partnership was forged last year between the local government and the Citrus Research Institute of Southwest University, leading to the establishment of the China Liangping Pomelo Industry Research Institute.
Source: China Daily