In high summer, the 300 acres of golden sophora trees in Longshan Village, Baqiao Town, Qiyang City, have entered their prime harvesting season. Rows of lush sophora trees are laden with golden buds. After undergoing a process of blanching and sun-drying, the flowers take on a grain-like appearance. Based on the principle that food can also be medicine, local villagers process the flower buds into golden sophora Tea, aligning with market demands and developing a series of related products to significantly increase the value-added of the flower buds.
In the golden sophora planting base of Longshan Village, Baqiao Town, the verdant golden sophora trees are thriving. The flower buds, about the size of grains, are on the verge of blooming. Several farmers are busy picking, bagging, blanching, and drying them, engrossed in their work.
Golden sophora is a type of sophora tree, named for its golden flowers and seeds. The blanched and dried or dehydrated flower buds of the golden sophora resemble grains, commonly known as “sophora flower grains.” These flower grains have the effects of cooling blood and reducing heat, relieving asthma and cough, fighting bacteria and inflammation, and promoting bowel movements, making them valuable for medicinal purposes. They can sell for around 30 yuan per pound.
Zhang Chifa, a major grower of golden sophora, explains that in the Longshan Village area, the 300 acres of golden sophora flower grains have already entered their peak harvest period. Yield can reach 300 pounds per acre, with an annual output value of over 2.7 million yuan. The new processing facility for golden sophora tea has been preliminarily constructed and will begin normal production next month.
Baqiao Town is actively exploring a business model of “enterprise + family farm + farmer,” continuously stimulating farmers' enthusiasm for growing sophora flower grains. By fully utilizing land resources and expanding industry scale, this approach further increases residents' income and injects new momentum into rural revitalization.
Deputy Mayor Ouzekun of Baqiao Town says that the town is adapting measures to local conditions and taking multiple actions to fully support the development of agricultural specialties. Through increasing infrastructure construction, accelerating land transfer, improving facilities, and laying a solid foundation for modern and efficient agriculture, the cooperative plus farmer development model allows the public to benefit from rent, wages, and dividends, driving industrial growth and contributing to rural revitalization.