In the 300-plus mu White Tea garden of Xiachuan Group, Banqiao Village, Jingyang Town, Jingde County, hundreds of automatic sprinkler heads have recently been activated simultaneously, spraying long, fine streams of water in all directions, instantly enveloping the entire Tea mountain in mist.
Since entering the hot summer season this year, the southern mountainous areas of Anhui Province have experienced persistent high temperatures and drought, with little relief from the heat. However, the white tea garden in Banqiao Village installed an advanced automated sprinkler system at the end of last year, effectively alleviating the impact of high temperatures on the tea and ensuring stable production and increased yields for the coming year. This has become a significant highlight in the local agricultural sector's use of technology to combat drought and secure income growth.
“My farm covers about 300 mu of tea, and white tea is relatively intolerant of drought. Last year, the village committee secured funding for this sprinkler equipment, which I find very practical and easy to operate. With just one button, the sprinkler system can activate hundreds of sprinklers simultaneously. Compared to traditional watering methods, this greatly improves drought resistance efficiency. Additionally, by setting specific times and locations for sprinkling, it saves water resources. The soil and air humidity in the tea garden are also more evenly distributed, which is beneficial for the growth of the tea and significantly enhances its quality,” said Tan Liwu, the tea mountain manager.
“Last year, our village secured 2.5 million yuan from post-immigration assistance project funds to install automatic sprinkler facilities that cover approximately 460 mu of tea gardens. Modern irrigation systems offer many benefits, including time and labor savings, as well as efficient water use, which ensures stable and high tea yields. This investment was worth it. In the future, our village plans to secure more projects to install sprinkler systems across all thousand mu of tea gardens, solving development challenges. Currently, we are actively planning a new single-rail transport vehicle project for the white tea base,” said Hu Zhen, secretary of the Banqiao Village Party Branch.
Currently, five tea merchants lease and cultivate tea in Banqiao Village, producing over 13,000 catties of dried tea in 2024, with a total sales revenue exceeding 60 million yuan, transforming the tea industry into green wealth-generating “golden leaves.”
In recent years, Jingyang Town has actively assisted tea companies and large-scale growers in applying for modern tea industry development projects, constructing 2,200 mu of ecologically friendly, standardized, and mechanization-friendly demonstration tea gardens. This has laid a solid foundation for improving the quality and efficiency of the town's tea industry and supporting rural revitalization. (End)