Workers were busy sorting, drying, and packaging sphagna in the factory of Hunan Wanrong Dakang Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. at Lingtang Village, Jingpo Town, Rucheng County on March 11.

“Sphagna is not only one of the superior materials for planting substrate, but also widely used in medicine, preservation, food processing and other fields, with a broad domestic and international market. It’s relatively simple to plant it, without the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, but its growth requires specific humidity, temperature and water source,” said Lin Huosheng, a manager of the company.

Hunan Wanrong Dakang Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. visited Longhu Yao Village in 2021 and found it’s suitable for the growth of water moss for the village is adjacent to Longhudong Reservoir, with sufficient water source and right temperature and humidity. So the company transferred more than 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of land from the village to plant sphagna.

“Previously, in order to protect the water source area, this land was not suitable for planting rice, and the farmland was then laid idle. Now, it’s used to plant sphagna, which avoids the farmland abandoned and increases the village collective economic income. Moreover, sphagna can absorb nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements in water, which is very beneficial for purifying water. This leads to both economic and ecological benefits,” said Chen Guijuan, Party secretary of Jingpo Town.

In 2024, the company rented the original Nursery Primary School in Lingtang Village as a processing site. At present, its products are exported to Taiwan, Europe, America, Southeast Asia and other markets. More than 100 villagers in the surrounding areas have found employment at their doorstep, with an average monthly income increase of over a thousand yuan per person.

Chinese source: Chenzhou Today