Stocky, straightforward and smart, this is the first impression left by Zhou Gang, the president of Wuduhe Town Kiwifruit Specialized Cooperative of Yiling District in Yichang city. Speaking of him, we are reminded of Wuduhe kiwifruit. Conversely, once mentioning Wuduhe kiwifruit, we will think about Zhou Gang.

　　In words of Li Zhongfu, the commissary in charge of this organization in Wuduhe Town, the development and growth of the kiwifruit industry in Wuduhe derive from the establishment of Zhou Gang’s Kiwi Specialized Cooperative, and he can definitely be regarded as the "founder" of Wuduhe kiwifruit industrialization.

　　Eight years ago, although Wuduhe kiwifruit was a little bit well-known in the whole country with an acreage of nearly 1,000 mu, it failed to enrich farmers due to its single breed and backward management as well as farmers' uncooperativeness and mutual price-cutting competition. Therefore, kiwifruit already became tasteless but wasteful “Chicken ribs” --- things of little value or interest.

　　“At that time, kiwifruit still sold bad with the price of two yuan per kilogram. Farmers were so desperate that they carried kiwifruit to the gate of government building of Wuduhe Town to seek government aid.” Zhou Gan said with bitter hatred when he mentioned the situation of the initial establishment of the cooperative.

　　A considerable change had taken place in 2009.

　　In 2009, under the leadership of Zhou Gang, Wuduhe Town Kiwifruit Specialized Cooperative was set up with a registered capital of 5 million yuan. Not only did he recruit the first 52 kiwifruit household farmers in Wuduhe Town, but also gathered 1,100 mu farmland to achieve intensive development of kiwifruit industry

　　“The price of Guangyuan red kiwifruit was 1000 yuan per plant, which was too expensive for me. However, with regards to long term interests, I ultimately bit the bullet and settled the price with seller and buy 100 seedlings.” The first thing was to improve varieties after the establishment of Zhou Gang’s Kiwi Specialized Cooperative. Zhou Gang recalled, when he heard about the Guangyuan kiwifruit was sold for 24 yuan per kilogram, he immediately went on a field trip to Guangyuan Changxi County with some partners, and after seeing the hot selling scene on the spot, he made up his mind to introduce this kind of red kiwifruit to Wuduhe Town.

　　Since 2010, Zhou Gang had led first-stage breed improvement project of 200 mu kiwifruit. In 2013, 200 mu of new kiwifruit variety began to bear fruits extensively. In that year, more than 50,000 kilograms kiwifruit in orchard were sold out before its official sale.

　　By the end of the year, 300 mu of peasantry's land had been circulated to develop red kiwi since the second-stage project of the cooperative was initiated. Under the guidance of Zhou Gang, some farmers in the neighborhood also began to change breed, developing red kiwifruit. Therefore, breed improvements of kiwifruit were extended in large areas.

　　“Over the last year, the highest price of red kiwifruit was 56 yuan per kilogram, many farmers benefited from it”, Zhou Gang said. In just seven years after the establishment of the cooperative, the kiwifruit industry had witnessed a rapid development. The number of growers has grown from the 100 households to 1,400 now. The acreage of kiwifruit has grown from less than 1,000 mu to 6,000 mu now. Last year, the sales revenue of kiwifruit was nearly 50 million yuan, almost all growers can earn more than 10,000 yuan. For the first time, Kiwifruit replaced tea and became the leading industry for increasing farmers' income.

　　“If we can resolve kiwifruit canker disease, the kiwifruit industry must be the dominant industry in the future!”, Zhou Gang said, despite the initial success of the kiwifruit industry, kiwifruit canker disease is a lion in the way hindering the development of kiwifruit industry at present.

　　Zhou Gang told reporters, in order to solve the disease prevention and treatment of kiwifruit; the cooperative had cooperated with research institutes such as Three Gorges Botanical Garden, College of Horticulture and Gardening of Yangtze University, and etc to explore new approaches to prevention and treatment. To preserve its genetic identity, the cooperative had worked with Yichang Municipal Forestry Bureau to protect and test the quality of more than 20 kinds of wild kiwifruit in Wuduhe Town.

　　“We are ready to introduce one new equipment next year to manufacture dried kiwifruit”, said Zhou Gang. The future development of Wuduhe kiwifruit industry must take the road of deep processing, and dried kiwifruit processing manufacture is a project that is running by the cooperative. “By then, the former ‘chicken ribs industry’ will become the ‘golden wings industry’ contributing greatly to the economic boom of the whole town.” Zhou Gang said with a smile.(Correspondent Li Zhou, reporter Huang Shanguo)