The market price for this batch of milk-flavored corn can reach 5 to 8 yuan per ear. Previously, the white sweet-waxy corn I grew could only be sold by the kilogram, at two to three yuan per jin, said Zeng Kejun, a villager from Jiti Village, Shibantan Subdistrict, Xindu District, Chengdu, on June 22, with excitement.

The milk-flavored corn cultivated by Zeng Kejun is a new, distinctive variety of fresh corn introduced to Jiti Village. Village Party Secretary Zhong Furong explained that last November, the village introduced 16 new varieties for trial planting, including milk-flavored corn and black glutinous corn, from Yunnan Agricultural University and the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, aiming to establish a differentiated cultivation layout.

Sichuan's planting area for fresh corn, which mainly includes sweet corn, glutinous corn, and sweet-waxy corn, is approximately 1.2 million mu, making it a major production and consumption region for fresh corn in China. In recent years, the fresh corn industry has rapidly emerged as a new avenue for increasing income and prosperity in suburban and rural areas. How to further enhance the value of fresh corn has become a new focus for Sichuan.

Calculating the Income Increase: Per-Mu Revenue Rises by 1,500 Yuan Compared to Traditional Varieties

Previously, growing white sweet-waxy corn cost about 1,700 yuan per mu, with a yield of approximately 1,200 kilograms per mu, resulting in minimal profit, said Zeng Kejun, explaining the switch to milk-flavored corn, stating the new variety is more profitable.

The unique taste is the key reason milk-flavored corn commands a higher price, according to Zhong Furong. It can be eaten raw, is juicy with a bursting texture, and combines a rich milky aroma with high sweetness. Its sweetness is twice that of ordinary corn. Despite the high sugar content, its glycemic index is lower than that of regular corn, making it suitable for diabetics in moderation.

Furthermore, the growth cycle for milk-flavored corn is only 70 to 80 days, significantly increasing supply frequency. While traditional fresh corn is sold by weight, we sell by the ear, Zhong Furong noted, calculating the income boost: taking a standard 350-gram ear as an example, each milk-flavored corn can sell for 8 yuan, increasing per-mu income by about 1,500 yuan.

However, relying solely on variety upgrades is insufficient. In July, a 1,300-square-meter fresh-locking workshop in the village will commence operations, with a daily processing capacity of up to 150,000 ears of fresh corn. The shelf life of milk-flavored corn is only 5 to 10 days, so farmers are hesitant to plant more for fear of not selling it, Zhong Furong said. After fresh-locking treatment, the shelf life can be extended to 6 to 12 months, and the product forms can expand from fresh ears to include corn juice and ready-to-eat corn cups.

The supply chain is also being continuously developed. We are simultaneously cultivating a supply chain system suitable for distinctive fresh corn varieties. For instance, channels dedicated to supermarkets and group purchases shorten the distribution chain, said Kong Liangliang, head of the fresh corn team at the Rice and Sorghum Research Institute of the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Calculating Cost Reduction: Mechanized Transplanting Helps Reduce Labor Costs by 210 Yuan Per Mu

While promoting new varieties to boost income, Sichuan is also employing technological means to reduce costs. Liu Bo, Director of the Intelligent Equipment Center at the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences, pointed out that the low mechanization rate in Sichuan's fresh corn cultivation has been a persistent challenge. Data shows the current provincial mechanized sowing rate for ordinary corn is about 28%, with a mechanized harvesting rate of around 22%, and the mechanization rate for fresh corn is even lower.

This challenge is being addressed. A total harvested area of 0.3 mu yielded 394.93 kilograms of fresh ears, equivalent to a per-mu yield of 1,316.43 kilograms. Recently, Sichuan's first fresh corn project using mechanized transplanting was completed and accepted at the Jianli Vegetable Professional Cooperative planting base in Shengping Community, Juntun Town, Xindu District, Chengdu, delivering impressive results.

This is the first 'Made in Sichuan' film-mulching transplanter for fresh corn. Calculations show its transplanting efficiency is 20 times higher than traditional manual labor, saving 210 yuan in labor costs per mu, said Liu Bo. Previously, fresh corn transplanting was done manually, with ridging and film mulching completed through a combination of equipment and labor. Now, a single set of equipment completes ridging, film mulching, and transplanting in one go.

He added that a single machine can cover up to 800 mu of land in one season, and in its first year, over 30 orders have already been received.

Sichuan is exploring more cost-reduction models. For example, Sichuan Agricultural University is experimenting with optimizing fertilization plans at the Wutongqiao Rice-Ginger Science and Technology Backyard in Sichuan. Using rapeseed green manure returned to the field combined with bio-organic fertilizer application has achieved a 20% to 40% reduction in pure nitrogen usage compared to conventional methods.

Organic fertilizer supplementation has increased, costs have decreased, the pericarp is thinner, the taste is better, and the selling price is higher, said Tang Xiaoyan, an associate professor at Sichuan Agricultural University.