Recently, the "New Chili Pepper Varieties Comparative Trial Station" and the "New Chili Pepper Varieties Demonstration and Promotion Station," jointly established by Hunan Agricultural University and the Vegetable Research Institute of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, were officially inaugurated in Hengyang. These stations will operate under the "Hengyang Vegetable Technology Innovation Expert Workstation" and the "Hengyang Defengyuan Seed Industry Co., Ltd." The unveiling ceremony was attended by Zou Xuexiao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Hunan Agricultural University, and Li Xuefeng, director of the Vegetable Research Institute of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

▲Chili pepper cultivation demonstration base.

In recent years, the Hengyang Vegetable Technology Innovation Expert Station and the Hengyang Defengyuan Seed Industry Co., Ltd. Expert Station have achieved fruitful results. Multiple newly introduced and carefully cultivated chili pepper varieties not only exhibit strong disease resistance and high yields but also boast unique flavors. These high-quality varieties have been widely promoted across major production areas in Hunan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Yunnan, with acumulative cultivation area exceeding 3 million mu (about 200,000 hectares), helping farmers increase their income by over 15%. Take the "Xingshuzhoula No.2, 3, and 4" promoted in Hunan as an example. The yield per mu has increased by 25%, and the average annual income per household has increased by more than 8,000 yuan.

While promoting new varieties, the chili pepper trial and promotion stations have prioritized green agricultural development. By advancing eco-friendly pest control technologies, they have reduced pesticide use by 30% while ensuring healthy crop growth. Additionally, through innovative "field classroom" training programs, more than 3,000 agricultural technicians have been trained, providing talent support for the sustainable development of the chili pepper industry.

The establishment of the two stations in Hengyang marks a new phase of deep integration of industry, academia, and research in the city's chili pepper sector. Moving forward, "two stations" will focus on: advancing deep processing technologies to develop high-value-added products and extend the industrial chain; forming a "Chili Pepper Industry Innovation Alliance" with domestic universities to tackle core technological bottlenecks in seed sources; promoting "Smart Chili Pepper" models by leveraging IoT and big data for precision farming; building a regional public brand to enhance the international competitiveness of "Xiang Chili" (Hunan Chili) and accelerate the transition of new varieties from laboratories to fields.