In China, Chongren Hemp Chicken has a long history of breeding. It is said to have been more than a thousand years old. In 1997, Chongren County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province was named by the Ministry of Agriculture as “Hometown of Hemp Chicken in China”. In order to protect the genetic diversity of agricultural resources around the world and the national geographical indication products Chongren Hemp Chicken, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) was invited to the attend a press conference of the “4th Hemp Chicken Food and Culture Tourism Festival in Chongren, Jiangxi”, and enthusiastically answered the media’s related questions.
In the following, the content of Dr. Zhou's speech is shared with readers.
Jiangxi Daily reporter: “Hemp Chicken is mainly free-range, focusing on ecology and sustainable. We particularly want to know what difference of the Hemp Chicken also has from other chicken species? Thank you.”
Dr. Zhou: “In terms of origin and distribution, Hemp Chicken is a breed for both meat and eggs. This chicken is named after its origin in Chongren County, Jiangxi Province. It has been distributed to all parts of Jiangxi Province. Hemp Chicken is lively and agile. It has the characteristics of strong foraging ability, good resistance to stress, tender and delicious meat. It is currently a provincial-level protected species in Jiangxi Province. Hemp Chicken has a long history of breeding and has been reported for more than a thousand years. Hemp Chicken adopted the family selection method as systematically selected and passed the appraisal and acceptance at the end of 1988. At present, Chongren County has the original seed farm of Hemp Chicken.
In 1997, Chongren County was named by the Ministry of Agriculture as the “hometown of Hemp Chicken in China”. In the development of the Chongren Hemp Chicken industry, the strategy of leading the way was implemented and intensive development was implemented. The low-lying grass slope was used to establish breeding bases for the chickens and a free-range base for commercial chickens; and leading enterprises such as feed processing plants and Hemp Chicken processing plants were established.
By continuously increasing investment in science and technology and using scientific and technological means, Chongren Hemp Chicken is purified and rejuvenated, so that hemp chicken always maintains the advantages of brand characteristics of excellent varieties. Organize scientific research team, improve processing technology, speed up the development of new products, extend the industrial chain of hemp chicken, increase its added value, and develop and produce a series of processed products such as hemp chicken wine and hemp chicken soy sauce, effectively improve The competitiveness of the hemp chicken market and the processing and production benefits of hemp chicken.
Chongren Hemp Chicken has been certified by the Ministry of Agriculture's Geographical Indications Product System and has also obtained certification from the Ministry of Agriculture for pollution-free agricultural products. It has excellent germplasm resources and the brand is very popular.
In early July 2019, with the support and excavation of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), China Conservation Area for Hemp Chicken at Chongren (CCAfa) was established around Chongren County's traditional Chinese famous brand agricultural products and national geographical indication products Chongren Hemp Chicken to protect this local poultry been raised since the end of the Tang Dynasty for more than a thousand years. The establishment of this CCAfa site has been recognized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in view of helping to promote the protection of the genetic diversity of global agricultural resources.”
Dr. Zhou said that the protection of Chongren Hemp Chicken is a model for agricultural biodiversity conservation and a model for building ecological civilization. The agricultural development and hemp chicken protection in Chongren County have received international support and recognition. Dr. Zhou also had a direct phone call with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO said it would strongly support and send a senior technical expert to the opening ceremony of the 4th Hemp Chicken Food and Culture Tourism Festival.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
Original Chinese article:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cmmpvCSBMfQn2OIjYGEeyA
By / Maggie