Spring ploughing season has brought a remarkable agricultural transformation to Zezhou County in northern China's Shanxi Province, where vast stretches of once-barren riverbank land now thrive with over 30 million chili seedlings. Local farmers, backed by a growing agricultural cooperative, have reclaimed wasteland to expand chili cultivation to 40 hectares this year—one-third of which was previously unproductive terrain.
The project, centered along the riverbanks of Jincheng City, highlights innovative land rehabilitation techniques and high-standard farming practices. Residents report that the chili varieties grown here are adapted to the regional climate, promising stable yields for markets across the Chinese mainland.
"This land was unused for years due to poor soil quality," said a cooperative member, who noted that tailored irrigation systems and soil enrichment programs made cultivation viable. The initiative not only boosts local incomes but also prevents erosion along vulnerable river ecosystems.
With global demand for chili products rising, experts suggest such land revitalization projects could inspire sustainable agricultural models in similar regions. The cooperative plans to integrate smart farming technologies by 2025 to further optimize output.
