Xiuwen introduces new transport model for mandarins

Xiuwen's Taoyuan village has introduced drone technology this autumn to transport sweet mandarins down the mountains, heralding a bumper harvest.

More than 4,000 mu (266.67 hectares) of sweet mandarin orchards in Taoyuan village sit on alpine slopes. Scattered plots and rugged mountain roads once created tough transport challenges, holding back improvements in quality and efficiency in the village's mandarin industry.

The village built monorail transport lanes last year to ease part of the transportation burden, yet these lines still failed to reach all remote growing areas. This year's innovative operating model is helping mandarins from deep mountains reach markets faster via an aerial express service.

"Previously, one worker could only transport 250 kilograms of mandarins a day. Now a single drone can carry at least 10,000 kg daily," said a local grower.

Unconstrained by terrain or roads, drones can reach even the most remote orchards on mountain slopes, cutting transit time and transport costs by around 70 percent. They also reduce labor costs, minimize fruit damage, keep mandarins looking fresh, and boost harvesting efficiency.

According to Feng Zhijian, a village representative, the two transport drones now in service were purchased by the villagers. The county launched special training programs earlier on drone operation, enabling local fruit growers to master practical skills, including flight control and hoisting.

The village's mandarins now reach market quickly through an integrated delivery model combining drone transport, monorail haulage, and offline procurement, injecting new momentum into the village's distinctive industry.