Financial empowerment drives Xiuwen’s organic kale boom

The Yanyingshan kale cultivation base drives prosperity and provides a sustainable income boost for villagers. [Photo/Xiuwen county media center]

At a kale cultivation base in Yanyingshan village, Xiuwen county, villagers lean over neat vegetable beds to harvest and transplant lush, plump kale, which is quickly packed and destined for first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, as well as major e-commerce platforms.

Relying on Xiuwen's unique natural advantages and fueled by financial backing from Guiyang Rural Commercial Bank and the efforts of village-based government officials, the kale industry in Yanyingshan has rapidly taken root, becoming a pillar of increased local incomes and strengthening the village collective.

Thanks to Guiyang Rural Commercial Bank's financial support of 3 million yuan ($439,400) in credit funds in 2025 and collaborative efforts, a 60-mu (4 hectares) ecological organic vegetable demonstration plantation was established in Yanyingshan.

The project initially focused on bok choy and pea shoots, and obtained an organic conversion certification by the end of 2025. In January 2026, the project completed land preparation and organic fertilizer application, followed by the intensive planting of 60 mu of kale on Feb 6. To date, the project has attracted approximately 3.9 million yuan in investment, created over 2,000 seasonal job opportunities for locals, and distributed more than 200,000 yuan in wages.

As a trending superfood, kale has become a favorite among consumers due to its high nutrient density. The base strictly adheres to organic cultivation standards for its 90,000 kale plants, using zero chemical pesticides.

The village plans to expand the scale of organic vegetable cultivation to approximately 300 mu, aiming to build a "zero residue, zero pollution, and zero additive" green vegetable project. It will also collaborate with enterprises to promote kale cultivation techniques, encouraging more villagers to participate in and share the dividends of this flourishing industry.