Wudang herb breeding base ushers in busy harvest season

The Polygonum capitatum seed and seedling breeding base, operated by Guizhou Xingqian Technology Co in Matou village of Xinbu Bouyei township, Wudang district, has entered its busy harvest season.

A greenhouse full of Ironwood dendrobium, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herb, is ready for harvest. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

Covering 60 mu (4 hectares), the base focuses on cultivating Polygonum capitatum and Dendrobium officinale. It has been recognized as one of Guizhou province's first regional breeding bases for traditional Chinese medicine and ethnic medicinal herbs.

According to the project manager, favorable weather conditions this year have led to vigorous growth, with Polygonum capitatum yields increasing by more than 20 percent year-on-year. The base has established a complete production process that integrates seed treatment, seedling cultivation, harvesting, and drying, ensuring stable quality and providing a reliable source of high-grade germplasm for the TCM industry.

The Gastrodia elata planting base in Guaijiu village, Wudang district. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

Wudang district regards the TCM industry as a pillar of its specialty agriculture. To date, it has built five specialized, large-scale seed and seedling breeding bases covering more than 600 mu.

The district's total medicinal plant cultivation area has reached 61,500 mu, with 18,300 mu under artificial cultivation and an annual output of around 7,200 metric tons.

Using its rich natural resources, Wudang has partnered with research institutes to enhance seed quality, introduced leading enterprises to expand modern planting and preliminary processing, and planned a 2,500-mu demonstration base for authentic medicinal herb breeding and cultivation.

The district currently hosts more than 20 enterprises in the TCM sector, including four newly established this year, driving both agricultural efficiency and farmers' incomes.