Organic rice transplanting has begun at the Rice Industry Demonstration Base in Xingdong town, Xinghua, marking the start of the 2026 summer planting season.
Covering 4,000 mu, the base designated 3,000 mu for organic production after the 2024 autumn harvest, shifting from conventional farming to high-end organic cultivation.
Farmers transplant rice seedlings. [Photo/etaizhou.gov.cn]
Throughout this transition, the China Green Organic Food Certification Center (COFCC) has provided technical guidance. In late 2024, the land was left fallow and enriched with green manure, which was then plowed in May 2025 along with organic fertilizers. During this period, the organic paddies yielded 400 kilograms per mu.
The base has also adopted ecological practices, such as planting broad beans as green manure for nitrogen fixation and introducing ducklings to help manage weeds and pests. The adult ducks are sold for additional income. As a result, both yield and quality are expected to improve in 2026.
The three-year transition period concludes in 2027, with official certification anticipated. Wan Anjian, Party secretary of Xingdong town, said that the base aims to develop a comprehensive industrial chain and establish itself as a provincial-level core production area for organic rice, as part of broader rural vitalization efforts.