Overview of Yangma Township's Specialty Industries

Chinese herbal medicine is the characteristic and pillar industry of Yangma, the planting and radiating area of herbal medicine in the town reaches 100,000 mu, with nearly 300 varieties, and more than 30 varieties of large-scale planting and breeding. It has formed more than ten leading products such as chrysanthemum, salvia, atractylodes, Angelica dahurica, astragalus, xuan shen, licorice, Panax quinquefolium, Job's tear grains, eucommia, ginkgo biloba, Buddha's hand, scorpion, leech, etc. Especially chrysanthemum and salvia are the most important ones in China, which is also the largest production base of Chinese herbs in East China. 1997, the town was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Medicinal Herbs" by the Committee of Natural Medicine of the Society of Natural Resources of China. In 1997, Yangma Township was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Medicinal Materials" by the Natural Medicine Committee of China Natural Resources Society, and in the same year, chrysanthemums in Yangma Township were recognized as "green food" by China Green Food Development Center, and in 1998, the production base of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Yangma Township was evaluated as a provincial-level green food base in Jiangsu Province. "In 1999, Yangma's Chinese herbal medicine base passed the provincial GAP acceptance of Chinese herbal medicine, and in 2001, Yangma was recognized as one of the five major organic food production bases in Jiangsu Province, and Yangma chrysanthemums were awarded the title of "Famous Brand Product" at the 2001 China Agricultural International Expo. In 2002, Yangma chrysanthemum and its products passed the ISO international quality system demonstration. Recently, the town passed the GAP demonstration of Chinese herbs by the expert group of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China and became the national GAP production base of Chinese herbs. The town has an annual output of more than 20,000 tons of various kinds of Chinese herbs, with an annual sales of 250 million yuan. 2013 per capita net income of farmers in the town was 15,723 yuan, making it one of the top 20 townships in Yancheng City. The town has also received inscriptions of encouragement from national leaders such as Zou Jiahua, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress and Qian Weichang, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Yangma Township of Sheyang County has a long history of chrysanthemum planting. Due to the influence of heavy cropping and non-standard fertilization and medication, chrysanthemum products have excessive pesticide residue and reduced active ingredient content, and chrysanthemum production is facing many challenges. Under the guidance of professors and experts from Nanjing Agricultural University, Yangma Township has established a 3,000 mu organic chrysanthemum production demonstration base. The demonstration area has strengthened the selection and breeding of new varieties and the promotion of good varieties, determined the "White Chrysanthemum with Red Heart" as the leading variety with high yield and good quality through the test and purification and re-enforcement, strictly cultivated the technology, and actively promoted the pesticide residual degradation fungicide, which has achieved better results. The core area of organic chrysanthemum has passed the demonstration of organic conversion products in April, 2007. 3,000 mu of chrysanthemum in the demonstration area has increased the yield by 11.2% per mu, and according to the current price, every 100 kilograms of chrysanthemum has increased the income by 7,160 yuan, and the cumulative income has increased by 65 million yuan, and the per capita has increased the income by 1,600 yuan. The demonstration planting of organic chrysanthemum not only brings rich economic benefits, but also greatly improves the agro-ecological environment, which is of great guiding significance in promoting the construction of new socialist countryside.