The ‘Chips’ of Farming

Xichang has been known as “the land of onion” since the 1990s when large-scale production of the vegetable began in the southwestern city in Sichuan Province. Nevertheless, the onions were grown from seeds imported from the U.S., Japan and some European countries, which cost 400 yuan ($48 at the then exchange rate) per kg on average.

Things changed when Xicong No.1, a red onion variety, was developed by Chinese agronomists in 2004, breaking the foreign monopoly and lowering the cost of seeds by 75 percent.

Behind the breakthrough was Li Chengzuo, a local college lecturer who led an onion breeding project. With limited