"Previously, growing coix seeds relied entirely on luck—when pests struck, we panicked. Now, by learning techniques from the skills team and following standardized methods, our yields are stable, and the quality has improved!" This recent remark from Uncle Pan, a grower in Shuangxikou Township, Jinyun County, Zhejiang Province, highlights the technological transformation of the local coix seed industry.
Shuangxikou Township boasts centuries of coix seed cultivation history, with its "Jinyun Coix Seeds" earning national geographical indication protection as early as 2013. In recent years, the township has significantly enhanced coix seed quality through a "learning-by-doing" skills training model, turning small coix seeds into a lucrative "golden industry."
To ensure officials truly understand and can guide farming practices, Shuangxikou Township established training platforms directly in the fields. Over 2 million yuan was invested to build two demonstration bases in Xingpan Village and Zhouzha Village, along with a coix seed processing and storage facility. Today, the skills team works closely with farmers, participating in every stage from seedling transplantation to water-fertilizer management and post-harvest processing.
The township has also partnered with universities, including China Agricultural University and Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, whose experts provide on-site guidance. Professor Zhu Pingyang, a science and technology envoy from Zhejiang Normal University, demonstrated green pest control techniques, bringing the "laboratory" to the fields.
According to local officials, adopting green pest control has effectively resolved previous pest-related challenges, boosting 2025 yields by 10% year-on-year. Additionally, experts compiled the "Coix Seed Full-Cycle Cultivation Standard," covering 12 key steps from seed selection to harvest, ensuring standardized, high-quality production. Farmers following these standards now produce larger, more glutinous grains.
Beyond cultivation, the skills team has helped expand sales channels, moving beyond fragmented, low-price sales. Online, they launched the "Shuangxikou Ecological Village" mini-program, training local livestreamers and securing over 200 orders in the first month. Offline, they showcased coix seeds at Zhejiang’s Agricultural Expo and secured a premium-priced supply agreement with Jiangxi Jimin Trust Group, a top 500 private enterprise, paying 2 yuan more per jin than market rates. Currently, the average annual income per grower has risen by over 2,000 yuan.
To break the "raw product only" limitation, the team explored cross-industry integration, developing value-added products like coix seed health tea, multigrain crisps, and rice wine. Packaging infused with Huangdi cultural elements turned ordinary gift boxes into "cultural collectibles," with the first 500 units selling out in 10 days. They also launched agritourism programs centered on coix seed education.
"Shuangxikou’s coix seed industry has evolved into a full-chain model covering cultivation, processing, and cultural tourism, with a 10% increase in total industrial output value compared to 2024, benefiting more farmers," the official added.
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