Organic fertilizer industry supports growth of green farming

By Chen Si.

Yichang is expanding its organic fertilizer supply, with the products widely used for local high-value cash crops.

Workers at Hubei Qiaoniuer Fertilizer Industry Co., Ltd. in Yiling District load organic fertilizer for shipment to Shaanxi Province.

“Our organic fertilizer is made from raw materials including cow manure, plant nutrient solution, and rapeseed cake. Blended with beneficial microorganisms, it goes through more than 20 production processes,” said Zhang Qiang, deputy general manager of the company.

A Qiaoniuer retail store in Yiling District, Yichang.

The company has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tons, with annual sales of nearly 20 million yuan (US$2.98 million). Its products are sold across Yichang and in more than 10 provinces.

Organic fertilizer can increase soil organic matter, improve soil quality, and enhance the quality of agricultural products. As the agricultural sector shifts toward greener practices, demand for organic fertilizer continues to grow. Field trials aimed at reducing chemical fertilizer use and replacing it with organic alternatives are being carried out across the city.

Yichang now has more than 60 registered commercial organic fertilizer manufacturers, with stable annual production exceeding 800,000, according to the Yichang Farmland and Fertilizer Station. The city has a maximum annual production capacity of 2 million tons. Around 300,000 tons are sold locally, while the rest are distributed across the country.

Products include microbial inoculants, bio‑organic fertilizer, organic fertilizers, and organic-inorganic compound fertilizers in both solid and liquid forms. They are mainly used to grow fruits, vegetables, tea, and Chinese medicinal herbs.

Jie Xingwei also contributed to this story