China is turning salt-damaged land along its coasts into farms, producing a high-value crop known as sea cordyceps, with many once-barren terrains now yielding harvests beneficial to farmers income, consumers’ health and environmental conservation.
China has about 1.5 billion mu (100 million hectares) of saline-alkali land, of which about 500 million mu is available for utilization. As China focuses on promoting agricultural modernization, localities across the country have been making great efforts to utilize saline-alkali land to increase the yield and boost farmer’ incomes.
Such soil is notoriously difficult to farm, typically producing low crop yields, but technological advances in agriculture mean that Chinese farmers are increasingly able to put it to good use.
A newly introduced high-value cash crop, sea cordyceps, is now being widely cultivated on wetlands in Yanfeng Town, Haikou City, the capital of southern China's island province of Hainan. Although the sea cordyceps looks like worms, it is actually a kind of nutrient-packed vegetable.
Few crops can survive in salt-affected soil, but such soil is fertile for sea cordyceps cultivation, with its seedlings, mature seedlings, seeds and straw all having high economic value.
"Because this is saline-alkali land, it is impossible to grow food crops. Its cost will be very high, while the harvest will be very small. However, sea cordyceps can grow in saline-alkali land. It thrives wherever saline-alkali soils exist, and it is a high-value crop," said Qian Guangyao, field farming manager of Hainan Haiyu Biotechnology Company.
This salt-tolerant crop can be irrigated with seawater, helping purify nutrient-rich discharge while producing blue carbon ecosystem benefits.
Sea cordyceps has great commercial value. Fresh sea cordyceps can be eaten raw as a cholesterol-lowering vegetable. It can also be processed into mineral-packed bio-salt through advanced extraction.
The crop is also used to produce tea, cosmetics, and supplements. Estimates suggest that an annual yield of this crop can reach up to 750,000 yuan (about 105,000 U.S. dollars) per hectare, transforming barren, salt-affected land into a source of both nutrition and income.
China promotes salt-tolerant crop cultivation to transform coastal wasteland into farms
China promotes salt-tolerant crop cultivation to transform coastal wasteland into farms
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
