Xiao Shenglan (L) and his wife He Xiaozhen pick peppers at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025.
Xiao Shenglan and his wife He Xiaozhen, both born in 1987 in Ningxiang City, are committed to pioneering the development of the local pepper industry with new ideas and sale channels.
After knowing that Hunan Province lacks local pepper supplies in winter because of its unfavorable weather conditions, the couple put their focus on cultivating overwintering pepper plants.
In terms of breeding, they cooperated with research institutes and agricultural experts to sort breeds, cultivate plants and explore disease resistance methods.
Through their unswerving efforts, the overwintering pepper cultivation has been developed and widely applied in Huaminglou Township administered by the city.
To boast sales, Xiao Shenglan in 2020 tried turning to social media platforms and promoted the pepper with his self-made short videos, which made them rake in an unexpected turnover of 10,000 yuan in the first week. This successful attempt has inspired the couple to share the planting and sale experience to others.
Up to now, the pepper industry and the related industries in the town is able to earn 20 million yuan (about 2.7 million U.S. dollars) of total annual output value, with more than 200 people being brought along to the industry. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan assembles the irrigation equipment at his farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
An aerial drone photo shows a family farm run by Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen (R) cooks a dish with homegrown peppers while her husband Xiao Shenglan films the cooking at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen sells peppers via livestream at a farm run by her husband Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan (R) and his wife He Xiaozhen walk with newly-picked peppers at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan checks the irrigation equipment at his farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan (R) and his wife He Xiaozhen talk about the large-scale cultivation of a new pepper variety at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen picks peppers at a farm run by her husband Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen sells peppers via livestream at a farm run by her husband Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan (R) and his wife He Xiaozhen taste a new pepper variety at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen checks online pepper orders at a farm run by her husband Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen (1st L) sells peppers via livestream at a farm run by her husband Xiao Shenglan in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan (R) and his wife He Xiaozhen pose for a photo at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
He Xiaozhen (L) shoots a video of her husband Xiao Shenglan picking peppers at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Xiao Shenglan (1st R) and his wife He Xiaozhen (2nd R) have dinner with family members at Xiao's farm in Ningxiang City, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
