The “Double Jujube” industry is advancing in tandem, paving the way for rural revitalization and shared prosperity.
Release time:
2026-07-03
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Abstract
At the Yellow River–side jujube base in Lin County, Lüliang City, Shanxi Province, newly sprouted branches stretch out and lush greenery blankets the contiguous sour‑jujube orchards that have undergone high‑grafting and variety‑improvement. Jujube farmers are busily pruning and tending to the fields, laying a solid foundation for a bountiful autumn harvest.
Under the guidance of science-and‑technology‑driven assistance from the Chinese Forestry Society and the National Academy of Administration for Forestry and Grassland, and with coordinated support from the Lüliang Municipal Forestry Bureau and the Lin County Forestry Bureau, Lin County has built on its 820,000 mu of jujube production base. By harnessing new‑type productive forces, it has opened up a new development pathway for the sour‑jujube industry, simultaneously advancing both quality‑enhancement and efficiency‑boosting measures for jujubes and high‑grafting‑based transformation of sour‑jujube cultivation. Deeply cultivating the forest‑food sector and implementing the “Grand Food View,” the county has steadily expanded stable income‑generating channels for its 370,000 jujube farmers, forging a distinctive path toward revitalizing the forestry and grassland industries—one characterized by a sound ecological environment, thriving industries, and shared prosperity for the local population.
Lin County, located in the Yellow River Basin, is a core production area for red dates. Jujube trees cover all 23 townships and 454 administrative villages in the county, and the red date industry has long been the primary source of income for local residents. However, in recent years, the domestic red date market has faced oversupply and steadily declining returns, making industrial transformation urgently necessary. By contrast, sour jujube, a high-quality forest food with both medicinal and culinary value, enjoys robust market demand and significant economic potential, making it a key entry point for industrial restructuring. Every part of the sour jujube is valuable: its pulp is rich in amino acids, vitamins, and a variety of trace elements; the seeds contain saponins, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds that promote relaxation and sleep; and the pulp, seeds, leaves, and pits can all be extensively processed and utilized.
This industry not only combines economic and ecological value but also aligns with the new‑era “Grand Food Vision,” making it a premium sector for building a “forest granary” and diversifying the supply of healthy food for the public. The Chinese Forestry Society, in collaboration with the Cadre Training College of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, has been steadily deepening its support efforts in Lin County, establishing a four‑stage assistance framework: Phase 1.0—breaking ground with pioneering technologies; Phase 2.0—fostering incremental growth; Phase 3.0—advancing refined processing; and Phase 4.0—integrating brand development. Leveraging an academician workstation and expert innovation stations, the initiative has introduced superior jujube varieties, refined the “Technical Guidelines for High‑Grafting and Variety Improvement of Jujube Trees,” and established standardized demonstration bases. Regular specialized training on cultivation, pruning, and pest‑and‑disease management has been conducted to cultivate local technical talent, effectively addressing farmers’ skill gaps. In terms of ecological conservation, comprehensive surveys and preventive measures against jujube witches’ broom disease are being carried out in parallel, safeguarding the ecological integrity of red‑date forests in the Yellow River Basin.
In terms of variety breeding, the local area has leveraged the technical expertise of research teams to successfully develop the high-quality sour jujube varieties “Jin Suan No. 1” and “Jin Suan No. 2.” After grafting sour jujube onto existing jujube trees, fruit can be harvested in the same year; by the third year, yields begin to increase significantly, and by the fifth year, the trees enter their peak production phase, with stable yields of 500–600 kilograms per mu and a per-mu output value reaching up to RMB 10,000. Compared with traditional red jujubes, this approach delivers several times higher returns, yielding substantial benefits from industrial transformation.
As the leading enterprise in the county’s jujube industry, Shanxi Qikouhong Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Qikouhong Agriculture”), with guidance and support from the municipal and county forestry authorities, has established a business model of “company + cooperative + farmer.” The company has developed a 3,000-mu standardized base for red jujubes and sour jujubes, equipped with a processing workshop spanning over 1,000 square meters, a poverty‑alleviation workshop, and a cold‑storage facility with a capacity of more than 5,000 cubic meters, thereby integrating the entire value chain—from cultivation and processing to storage and export. In terms of benefit‑sharing mechanisms, the company signs guaranteed‑price purchase agreements with village cooperatives, ensuring that the purchase price for sour jujubes remains consistently above local market levels. By facilitating land‑shareholding and large‑scale contiguous land transfers, the company has achieved scaled‑up management of the jujube orchards. Employment at the base prioritizes households that have been lifted out of poverty and cooperative members, with wages paid at prevailing market rates; starting from the sixth year, cooperatives receive dividends based on their share of the forestland. This model has benefited 78 households comprising 273 individuals, including 51 households and 182 people who have already been lifted out of poverty. Cumulatively, it has helped 132 farming households and over 650 villagers secure stable employment and increased incomes, truly realizing a win‑win outcome: enterprise growth and shared prosperity for farmers. Extending the industrial chain and pursuing brand‑driven operations are key to the sector’s long-term sustainability.
To enhance the green ecological reputation of Lin County’s sour jujube and to unlock pathways for realizing the value of forest‑and‑grassland‑based ecological products, Qikou Hong Agriculture has proactively launched a full‑chain forest certification initiative, encompassing every stage—from raw material cultivation and workshop processing to warehousing, logistics, and end‑consumer sales—and establishing a comprehensive product traceability system.
Each batch of jujube products is traceable to its forest‑origin, management records, and processing steps, with an authoritative forest certification serving as a “green passport” that enhances market credibility and boosts product premium pricing. Leveraging the advantages of this certification, the company has also invested in advanced deep‑processing of jujubes, collaborating with research institutions to develop proprietary products such as jujube tea beverages, snack foods, and sleep‑aid health supplements. By tapping into livestream e‑commerce and offline trade shows, it has expanded sales channels, cumulatively helping to sell over one million yuan worth of local specialty jujube products.
Meanwhile, the enterprise is comprehensively enhancing the quality and efficiency of traditional red jujubes, establishing a 500-mu demonstration orchard for high‑quality fresh‑eating jujube varieties, and developing an integrated agroforestry model that combines jujube cultivation with other crops. This approach is fostering the concurrent prosperity of both red jujubes and sour jujubes, while promoting the integrated development of primary production, secondary processing, and tertiary cultural‑tourism sectors.
Going forward, the Chinese Forestry Society and the Management Cadre College of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration will continue to leverage their scientific and human‑resource assets, collaborating with municipal and county forestry authorities to formulate 3–5‑year medium‑ and long‑term development plans for the jujube industry. They will advance the establishment of jujube germplasm resource gardens, the selection and breeding of superior local varieties, and the promotion of mechanized management and maintenance. By harnessing new‑type productive forces, they will drive the transformation and upgrading of the forestry and grassland sectors, steadfastly uphold the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” diversify forest‑based food supplies, and implement the holistic approach to food security. In this way, the humble jujube will become a pillar industry for rural revitalization along the Yellow River, helping Lin County achieve a new stage of high‑quality economic development.
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Guangming Village, Linjiaping Town, Lin County, Lüliang City, Shanxi Province
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