Zhangye's science backyards boost farm output

In Zhangye, the Science and Technology Backyard program is driving agricultural progress and rural vitalization.

These field-based hubs, focused on local industries like seed corn and organic produce, connect research with practice. Professors and students work directly in fields to innovate and extend technologies, solving practical problems.

At the Corn Science and Technology Backyard, students conduct seed assessments. The team, addressing germplasm resource challenges, has developed over 6,800 resources using modern biotechnology.

Collaborating with top institutes, they have shortened breeding cycles and released more than 30 new corn varieties, now grown on over 1.2 million mu (80,000 hectares). These resilient, high-yield varieties are well-suited locally.

The backyard also partners with cooperatives, promoting better seeds and a planting-breeding model that produces 85,000 metric tons of silage annually.

The Organic Fruits and Vegetables Science and Technology Backyard provides on-site farmer guidance. Experts offer practical solutions like pest control methods. It focuses on key technologies, including variety selection, helping standardize cultivation for crops like early crisp pears to increase value.

The Gaotai Chili Science and Technology Backyard has an expert team providing one-on-one guidance to farmers. By selecting superior varieties, they aim to achieve a dry chili yield of more than 450 kilograms per mu, which would raise income by 1,500 yuan ($211) per mu. The team also established a combined online and offline sales system.

In Shandan county, the Asparagus Science and Technology Backyard researches techniques and trains farmers. It has nurtured 1.36 million seedlings, expanding local planting to 1,600 mu and increasing farmers' income by over 10 percent. With high yields and strong prices, the industry thrives, with over 85 percent of output sold via orders.