Hannan ushers in sweet corn harvest

The sweet corn new species technology transfer base is unveiled at the 2023 Hannan Sweet Corn Cultural Festival on June 9. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

The 2023 Hannan Sweet Corn Cultural Festival was held on June 9 in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ). About 4,000 hectares of sweet corn officially entered the market.

Government officials celebrated the zone, Wuhan bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, and representatives from the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Hubei Provincial Seed Group Co.

Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences founded a sweet corn new species technology transfer base in the Hannan district on the same day.

As a national comprehensive fresh sweet corn production demonstration zone, the district mainly boasts nearly 100 species of corn.

Since its approval as a National Geographical Indication Protection Product in 2012, Hannan district has solidified its reputation as China's sweet corn capital.

"Now 70 percent of the sweet corn has been ordered, with the pre-sales exceeding 80 billion yuan ($11.2 billion)," said Zeng Silai, president of Hannan Sweet Corn Association.

The Hannan sweet corn. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

Under the assistance of the Wuhan bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, all the cooperatives and individual corn growers have bought agricultural insurance, and they now don't have to worry about market fluctuation or natural disasters, according to Zeng.

In recent years, Hannan sweet corn's annual output surpassed 120 million yuan, increasing the incomes of local farmers.