1994: Vegetable farmers strike back

Chapter 324 Leaving One's Own Mark

Chen Jiazhi and Xue Jun were joking around.

After thinking for a moment, Ma Ming said, "Actually, I'm not quite sure where the quality of vegetables in Yuanmou is lacking, but Yuanmou has always been waiting for demand to come to them."

"That's why we should go out and see more of the world."

Thinking that he hadn't clearly explained where the difference lay, Chen Jiazhi repeated what Xue Jun had said.

"The same type of vegetable is mixed together without any distinction of variety, size, quality, or ripeness. Everything looks exactly as it did when it was picked from the field. After a simple refrigeration process, it is transported to the sales location."

When these vegetables are transported to the north, they will likely be completely inferior to the greenhouse vegetables grown in Shouguang, Shandong.

Ma Ming nodded first, then asked about the greenhouse vegetable situation in Shouguang. Chen Jiazhi bluntly stated that there was a significant gap in yield between the two sides.

"In the end, we still need to pay attention to the development of science and technology. Yuanmou has also tasted the benefits of science and technology." Ma Ming recalled: "More than ten years ago, the yield of vegetables per mu in Yuanmou was only a few hundred jin, and the output value per mu was only a few dozen yuan. In bad years, the yield per mu was less than a hundred jin."

Chen Jiazhi felt that he had changed the subject a bit too quickly and was surprised: "Not even a hundred pounds?"

Looking back, Ma Ming still felt a pang of sadness. "It was 1982 and 1983. For two consecutive years, the winter-planted tomatoes encountered late blight, and the average yield per unit area in the whole county was less than 100 jin."

The following year, the county integrated the winter and spring vegetable technology cooperation group, with more than 50 scientific and technical personnel participating. Professor Cai Kehua was also hired as a technical consultant. That year, the demonstration planting of winter cucumbers yielded 5 tons per mu and winter tomatoes yielded 7 tons per mu.

This caused a great sensation among vegetable farmers, and it was only after that that Yuanmou's vegetables officially entered the process of industrialization..."

Chen Jiazhi listened attentively. This was different from the information he had read in newspapers and magazines; the descriptions from those who had experienced it firsthand were much more moving.

After reviewing the past, Ma Ming brought up the topic of quality.

Chen Jiazhi and Xue Jun also started chatting freely, talking about their experiences in the Pearl River Delta region.

Just as people rely on clothing, vegetables also need exquisite packaging; this is a consumer demand in the new era.

Both the Pearl River Delta in the south and Shouguang in the north are at the forefront of the times.

Yuanmou is still complacent about the achievements of producing off-season vegetables in natural greenhouses. It may wake up in the future, but that will certainly be after paying a heavy price for its lessons.

Chen Jiazhi was unaware of Ma Ming's identity and did not expect that a single conversation could help a county avoid detours.

But he still spoke freely.

I reviewed my findings from my recent trip to Yunnan and the consumer demand in Guangzhou.

In the process, he also gained a lot, seeing the domestic vegetable market from a higher level of perspective.

Ma Ming was also deeply shocked.

Chen Jiazhi felt that he always liked to talk about technology and could bring it up in everything.

Before they knew it, it was noon, and Ma Ming insisted on treating the two of them to lunch.

Chen Jiazhi couldn't refuse, so he had to go along. He also learned that Ma Ming was participating in training at the county party school and that his trip to the Nengyu wholesale market was to complete an industry survey.

Upon hearing the name "Party School," Chen Jiazhi immediately sensed that Ma Ming must be someone within the system.

At the dinner table, the main topic was still vegetables. Yuanmou's main market is in the north, with less involvement in the south.

But Ma Ming might be interested in the Huacheng Market.

Ma Ming was even more surprised to hear that Chen Jiazhi had a stall in the Huacheng Wholesale Market and a vegetable market covering nearly a thousand acres.

"Besides checking the sources of goods, has Mr. Chen considered investing in a vegetable market in Yunnan?"

"Haha, of course I've thought about it." Chen Jiazhi didn't hide anything, "but the timing might not be right yet."

"What's inappropriate?"

"I mainly deal in leafy vegetables like bok choy, which require very fast transportation, and Yunnan doesn't have the necessary conditions yet."

Chen Jiazhi spoke frankly, adding, "But if we wait another two years, there might be an opportunity."

"It's not necessarily about only selling one type of vegetable."

Perhaps seeing an opportunity to attract investment, Ma Ming became much more enthusiastic.

Chen Jiazhi showed particular interest when he mentioned that his vegetable market was participating in the Huacheng Pollution-Free Vegetable Base project, and he enthusiastically introduced the policies.

This made Chen Jiazhi curious about which unit he worked for.

"Haha, Mr. Chen, I'm from the Agriculture Bureau. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll probably be promoted to a deputy position after completing my training at the Party School."

Chen Jiazhi realized what was happening, stood up and shook hands with him, "Congratulations, Director Ma."

Ma Ming smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, to be honest, I got to this point because I achieved some success in growing vegetables. So, I welcome companies from other places to invest in vegetable bases in Yuanmou."

“There is an opportunity.” Considering his identity, Chen Jiazhi added, “Actually, Yuanmou is mostly mountainous, so it should also have the conditions to develop summer and autumn vegetables. Hmm, the demand for summer vegetables in the Pearl River Delta region is also quite good.”

Ma Ming also smiled and said that he would definitely go to Huacheng to learn, and also made an appointment to visit Jiangxin Vegetable Market.

It feels like they're clinging to Chen Jiazhi a bit.

After the meal, Ma Ming originally wanted to take the two to visit the vegetable base in the town, but Chen Jiazhi declined, saying he had to rush back. They only exchanged contact information.

The two of them did indeed need to take the afternoon bus back to Kunming.

"Director Ma is really enthusiastic!"

"To attract investment."

Chen Jiazhi hadn't dealt with government officials much, but he felt that Ma Ming was quite knowledgeable.

When it comes to investing in farmers' markets, he prefers to look at the hard criteria.

Yuanmou is suitable as a source of goods. Although the stalls mainly sell leafy vegetables, they can occasionally deal in other types of vegetables, or open another stall. It's what the times require.

Summer in Yuanmou is different from that in Kunming; it's a bit hot, and taking the bus isn't very comfortable.

Winters are warm like spring, summers are hot but extreme weather is rare, and rainfall is moderate.

The climate makes the irrigated areas ideal for vegetable production, and the fields are quite beautiful. However, once you get to the mountains, some areas become barren.
Chen Jiazhi always felt that he had overlooked something.

He sat on the hard bus, pondering and thinking, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

Is this place suitable for vegetable breeding?
"Breeding, breeding... seeds from abroad, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers~" He clenched his fist, "seedlings!"

If there's anything suitable for Yuanmou to invest in right now, it's definitely seedlings!

He thought for a moment and came up with two excellent varieties.

Yuanmou mainly grows tomatoes, but the county's average vegetable yield is only about 2 tons, and the tomato yield per mu in the demonstration planting in 84 was only 7 tons.

There is still a lot of room for improvement.

High-quality seedlings are one direction; they can bring benefits to farmers, so they naturally have value.

Chen Jiazhi took out a pen and notebook and made two more notes.

And so we traveled all the way to Kunming.

After finishing his meal, Chen Jiazhi called the market again using the hotel front desk phone, and Tong Gang answered.

Chen Jiazhi asked, "How's the evaluation of the pollution-free vegetable base going?"

"It has passed the review of Panyu City and has been submitted to Huacheng District."

Tong Gang explained the process, which was a crushing victory based on sheer strength, and the data on supplies to Hong Kong left everyone speechless.

He then asked Tong Gang to call Xu Yao and Yi Dinggan to answer the phone.

Xu Yao arrived first.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, she took the lead in sharing the good news.

"Mr. Chen, the payments from the first ten days of the month have arrived. Yes, we've already received 300 million yuan this month."

"Not bad." Chen Jiazhi then asked with a smile, "How's the food production going these past few days?"

Xu Yao said, "The price has dropped a bit, and the shipment volume has stabilized at thirty or forty tons."

"It's alright, everything was done quite well."

After a brief chat about work and some everyday pleasantries, Yi Dinggan arrived.

"Jiazhi, when are you coming back? You've been gone for seven or eight days."

"Can't you handle this without me?"

"Heh~" Yi Dinggan said proudly, "The leaders from the town and the city have all come to the market and said we're doing a good job."

"Yes, I'll celebrate with you when I get back."

Chen Jiazhi then inquired about the market's production situation and received a reassuring answer: the market is currently undergoing a new round of applying organic fertilizer to improve the soil.

"Where is the seedling shed?"

"The steel frame has arrived and is being installed, but the sprinkler system will take some time to arrive."

“Hmm~” Chen Jiazhi pondered, “I found a place in Yunnan that is suitable for investing in seedlings and setting up a nursery. I’m thinking of giving it a try.”

"Then let's do it! We got through such a tough year, what's there to be afraid of? Li Xiu will definitely support you, right, Li Xiu?"

Immediately, Li Xiu's voice came from the other side: "Hmm!"

"Okay, let's do it."

Yi Dinggan is right, there's nothing to be afraid of. If it's simply about achieving financial freedom, with his current funds, he can achieve it by continuously buying houses.

But if given a second chance, he would like to leave his mark on history.

After Chen Jiazhi asked Yi Dinggan to have Hong Zhong keep an eye out for tomato and eggplant seeds from Rijkswyn Seed Company, he chatted with Li Xiu about their family situation.

Aside from saying he was never home, the family had no complaints.

The Yi brothers, Yi Long and Yi Hu, are also on summer vacation. Their grades seem to be pretty good. We're waiting for them to come back so we can buy them a computer.

“I may not be able to come back for the time being. It’s not suitable to build a vegetable market in Yunnan yet. I plan to go to Shanghai to take a look.”

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on things at home."

"Thanks a lot."

"Don't say it's hard, just come back soon."

Chen Jiazhi chuckled and joked, "Back in the party, time to pay our dues again!"

"Public grain? Isn't it time yet?" Li Xiu was puzzled. "Shouldn't we deliver public grain back to our hometown?"

"The public grain I'm talking about is that kind of thing, you know what I mean~"

"I don't understand. Besides paying grain taxes to the state, what other kind of grain taxes are there?"

Li Xiu was a little confused, so Chen Jiazhi had no choice but to ignore the strange looks from the receptionist next to him and tell her about that mess again.

"Um...we'll talk when you get back, I'll hang up now."

Chen Jiazhi smiled smugly, returned to his room, and began organizing the findings of his investigation over the past period.

His traces can be found in Wangqiying, Chenggong Ximen Market, Tonghai, Midu, and Yuanmou Nengyu Market in Kunming.

I also wrote down quite a few phone numbers.

If needed, and to avoid being completely isolated from information, we can also try shipping goods.

At the same time, he also decided to build a vegetable seed nursery in Yuanmou, mainly to sell vegetable seedlings, and then develop seed production and breeding along this path.

(End of this chapter)