On top of the panels, waves of clean energy are generated, while beneath them, plants flourish and yield gold. On the mountainside of Jiangdong Township in Mangshi, rows of photovoltaic panels stretch out in layers and are arranged in a well-ordered pattern, absorbing clean energy to empower green development. In the shaded tea garden soil beneath the panels, tea trees stand verdant and lush, while dendrobium clings to branches, thriving vigorously.
Jiangdong Township boasts a typical mountainous and humid climate, with a natural environment rich in cloud cover and moisture, and ample soft light, providing exceptional ecological conditions for the growth of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and the cultivation of tea trees. In recent years, Jiangdong Township has continuously deepened its focus on three distinctive industries: high-mountain tea, understory economy, and courtyard dendrobium, constantly tapping into the development potential of its mountainous rural areas. With the completion and operation of photovoltaic power stations within the township, the idle space in the tea gardens beneath the panels urgently needs to be revitalized. Achieving a two-way empowerment between the new energy industry and high-mountain specialty industries, while simultaneously enhancing both ecological and economic benefits, has become a key issue for the township's industrial revitalization.
Guided by policy direction, local resource endowments, and the goal of enriching farmers' incomes, Jiangdong Township has accurately anchored its development direction of "photovoltaic empowerment, tea-and-dendrobium symbiosis, and diversified value addition." It has innovatively explored a new three-dimensional integrated development model of "Photovoltaic + Tea + Dendrobium." Strictly adhering to three bottom lines—no new farmland occupation, no alteration of the tea garden structure, and no damage to photovoltaic facilities—it has revitalized the idle space beneath the panels. Through "clean power generation on the panels, ecological tea picking among the panels, and dendrobium cultivation under the panels," the township has achieved "one piece of land, three types of output, and multi-party win-win results," transforming the idle space under the panels into a "golden treasure land" for increasing income and becoming prosperous.
Where to begin: Variety selection as the core
For industrial quality and efficiency improvement, variety suitability is the core key. To avoid the risks of blind planting and build a solid foundation for industrial development, Jiangdong Township, based on market demand, growth characteristics, and the local environment, conducted field research and comparative screening to scientifically select three types of high-value-added dendrobium varieties. With P. polymorphum as the main variety, following a route for both medicinal and food use, it will later be complemented by P. fimbriatum and P. loddigesii varieties for joint cultivation. This creates an industrial layout of "quick returns, long-term income, and diversified empowerment," filling the gaps in the local industry concerning dendrobium as ornamental flowers and wild-simulated understory cultivation.
Solving the "how to plant" and "how to sell" challenges
Once the "what to plant" issue was solved, the questions of "how to plant" and "how to sell" became next. Jiangdong Township has innovatively established a four-tiered linkage working mechanism of "party committee leadership, enterprise drive, collective operation, and model farmer demonstration," selectively introducing enterprises for full-process empowerment. The project first landed a 20-mu pilot base in the #3 array of the Hetou Village photovoltaic power station in Jiangdong Township, implementing a closed-loop operation model of "unified seedling supply, unified technology, and unified management." Enterprises dispatch technical personnel to conduct skills training, guiding farmers in seedling binding, planting, and green management, effectively lowering the planting threshold. At the same time, these enterprises leverage their own industry resource advantages to help farmers find sales channels, broadening the market for agricultural products and allowing farmers to plant with confidence and earn with peace of mind. Once the dendrobium matures, it is expected to bring farmers an additional income of over 1,000 yuan per mu.
In the photovoltaic dendrobium tea garden base, Yang Yonghou, a "model farmer leader" responsible for base management, is leading left-behind women in the village to bind dendrobium seedlings. Yang introduced that left-behind elderly and women can find nearby employment and flexible work opportunities. This light physical labor at their doorstep allows villagers to achieve dual income from "working and planting." Combined with the existing tea revenue and rental income, it truly realizes "multiple incomes per household and steady income growth." Meanwhile, village collectives can also participate in project operations, revitalize idle resources, and continuously strengthen the collective economy. With the idle space under the photovoltaic panels revitalized, the agricultural-photovoltaic complementarity becomes more three-dimensional, achieving a win-win situation for village collectives, farmers, and enterprises alike.
From idle open space to fertile ground for wealth, and from a single industry to a three-dimensional economy, Jiangdong Township's "tea-and-dendrobium symbiosis" under-panel economic model is both a practical implementation of fostering "photovoltaic + Yunnan medicine" and a means to continuously monetize lucid waters and lush mountains, empowering the comprehensive revitalization of border villages through industrial integration.
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