一株艾草撑起的湖北小县城｜神奇的产业带

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights how Qichun County transformed its economy from poverty to prosperity through the cultivation and commercialization of Qichun Mugwort, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, achieving a GDP of 36.156 billion yuan and an industry output value of 16.3 billion yuan in 2024 [6][36]. Group 1: Economic Transformation - Before 2019, Qichun was a national poverty-stricken county for 16 years, with weak infrastructure and a lack of industry [6][51]. - The introduction of Qichun Mugwort cultivation has led to significant economic growth, with the planting area exceeding 200,000 acres and an average yield of 400 kg per acre, doubling since 2015 [11][6]. - The Qichun Mugwort industry has evolved from a non-standardized agricultural economy to a modernized industry with over 4,000 market entities and seven companies with over 100 million yuan in output value [36][47]. Group 2: Product Innovation and Market Expansion - Qichun's enterprises, such as Ai Ai Tie, have innovated various products, including moxibustion devices and essential oils, significantly increasing the commercial value of Qichun Mugwort [30][32]. - The company Ai Ai Tie reached a production peak of 2 million moxibustion devices per day, showcasing the scale of production [29]. - The development of high-value products is driven by research into effective components of Mugwort, enhancing its market appeal [33][57]. Group 3: Brand and Service Development - The brand value of Qichun Mugwort has grown from 3.562 billion yuan in 2015 to 14.258 billion yuan in 2025, positioning it as a leading brand in traditional Chinese medicine [42]. - Qichun has trained 83,000 certified moxibustion practitioners, creating a labor brand valued at 32.691 billion yuan, which promotes both employment and product consumption [44]. - The integration of cultural tourism with health services has attracted 5.2 million tourists in 2024, generating a revenue of 3.49 billion yuan [44]. Group 4: Socioeconomic Impact - The economic growth has led to a significant increase in disposable income, with urban residents' income rising by approximately 22% and rural residents by about 34% from 2019 to 2023 [50]. - The Qichun Mugwort industry has created job opportunities for nearly 30% of the county's population, directly linking economic growth to community welfare [49][48]. - The shift in the industrial structure from primary to tertiary sectors indicates a move towards service-oriented economic growth, with the tertiary sector's share increasing from 40.71% in 2017 to 51.20% in 2023 [47].