Jinping: Building a "Hail Protection Net" to Provide a "Protective Umbrella" for Premium Fruits

Stepping into the 1200-mu (approximately 80 hectares) honey plum orchard at Longchi Colorful Farmland, one sees workers with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Some workers steadily plant hot-dip galvanized steel supports into the orchard ground, ensuring their firm anchoring; others skillfully tie steel cables to the supports, preparing for subsequent work. Then, the massive hail nets are slowly unfolded, precisely and evenly covering the supports, providing a sturdy "protective umbrella" for the orchard laden with blossoms.

According to a worker on site, "The shed we're building is a 'three-proof' shed, providing protection against rain, frost, and hail. This type of shed is particularly suitable for Guizhou's long rainy season. Its advantage is that when the fruit trees are in bloom, the shed can be opened to protect the flowers from rain, increasing nectar production and thus improving fruit set. During the fruit ripening and harvesting stage, it also significantly reduces fruit cracking."

The 1,200 mu (approximately 80 hectares) of honey plums at Longchi Colorful Farmland are one of the pillar industries of agricultural economic development in Dunzhai Town, Jinping County. However, last year the orchard suffered from severe weather, resulting in widespread cracking of the honey plums and causing significant economic losses to fruit farmers. To address this problem, Jinping County acted swiftly, deciding to invest 1.85 million yuan to build 100 mu (approximately 6.7 hectares) of "honey plum rain-sheltered cultivation facilities," providing a "protective layer" for the honey plums.

Building rain-sheltered cultivation facilities is not only an emergency measure to cope with natural disasters but also an important initiative for Jinping County to promote the high-quality development of its premium fruit industry. This protective measure effectively reduces the impact of weather factors on fruit yield and quality, enhances the market competitiveness of honey plums, and provides a solid guarantee for fruit farmers to increase their income and achieve prosperity.

In addition, Jinping County actively organizes agricultural technicians to go deep into the orchards to provide fruit farmers with comprehensive technical guidance. From pruning and fertilization of fruit trees to pest and disease control, technicians provide professional and practical advice and support in every aspect, continuously improving the quality and yield of the fruit. They are committed to making the high-quality fruits of Longchi Colorful Countryside a distinctive feature of Jinping County, contributing to rural revitalization.