Smart greenhouses boost fish mint yields

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

At the seedling greenhouses in Qunfeng Village of Lianghe Town, Dangyang, the fish mint seedlings are beginning to sprout.

Shi Mingcheng, head of Mingcheng Vegetable Planting Professional Cooperative, highlighted the advanced technology employed in the greenhouses, including soil-free cultivation and integrated control systems for water, fertilizer, and sunlight.

"We use a drip irrigation system to water the crops and provide them with nutrients, which saves water and protects the environment," Shi said.

Additionally, Shi explained how the system sterilizes and disinfects the roots of the fish mint seedlings, enhancing disease resistance and enabling continuous cultivation.

In 1998, villagers discovered that the sandy soil in this region was ideal for growing fish mint, a perennial plant known for its pungent fishy odor, indigenous to China, Korea, and Japan.

In 2013, Shi established a professional cooperative specializing in vegetable cultivation, technical training, and sales, with a focus on fish mint.

In June 2021, Shi invested in constructing the Fish Mint Industrial Park, spanning 160 acres and featuring 3,600 square meters of greenhouses.

"The growth cycle of fish mint seedlings in the greenhouse has been shortened from nine months to six months, and the yield has increased by 1,000 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares)," Shi said. The greenhouse can provide 1.6 million seedlings throughout the year, he added.

The planting area of fish mint in Qunfeng Village has reached 1,500 mu, contributing to a significant increase in local annual income, with each resident earning an additional 10,000 yuan (US$1,389) last year. Statistics indicate that Lianghe Town boasts 25,000 mu of total fish mint cultivation.

Fish mint has emerged as a pivotal crop not only for the town but also the entirety of Dangyang City.

In 2023, the planting area of fish mint in Dangyang expanded to 43,000 mu, with the output value of fresh sales surpassing 1.5 billion yuan. Utilized both as a vegetable and in traditional Chinese medicine, the crop is now distributed to over 20 provinces across China.