Renhuai Hongyingzi Sorghum Harvest: Moutai Breeding Lifts Price to RMB 11.2/kg, Output Tops RMB 75 Billion

On the early autumn plains of northern Guizhou, sorghum has entered its harvest period in Ronghua Village, Huoshi Township, Renhuai City. Local villager Li Guangneng and his wife began working in the fields at dawn, and the harvested sorghum was transported back to the courtyard that same day for threshing and sun-drying. Li said they have returned to the village to grow sorghum for more than 20 years, with harvests improving steadily in recent years and grain purchase prices rising year by year. Farming has transformed from a means of barely sustaining a family into a stable livelihood. The development of local sorghum cultivation began with seed improvement. Early traditional varieties had low yields and weak resistance, producing only 75 kg per mu. From 1986, relevant enterprises launched sorghum breeding research, and in 2008 the new variety Hongyingzi passed variety approval. Since 2001, enterprises have cooperated with cooperatives and farmers to build standardised, large-scale, organic sorghum bases. In terms of the industry model, farmers can receive seeds and organic fertiliser free of charge during spring sowing, with technicians providing guidance on pest control and top-dressing at the field edge; at autumn harvest, collection vehicles enter the village, inspect quality on site and settle payment immediately. Over 25 years, the sorghum purchase price has risen from RMB 2 per kg to RMB 11.2 per kg. Organic sorghum bases now cover five counties (cities, districts) including Renhuai and Xishui, with a certified area of 1 million mu, a regular planting area exceeding 600,000 mu, and 200,000 farm households engaged. In 2025, the seventh-generation Hongyingzi variety completed its iteration, with the growth period shortened to 118 days, a short sturdy plant type resistant to lodging, amylopectin content reaching 99%, and yield increased to 367.55 kg per mu. The breeding team will subsequently advance research on mechanisation adaptation for mountainous areas. To date, the Hongyingzi series has created cumulative agricultural output value exceeding RMB 75 billion, driving income growth for 8.5 million farm households.