Yunnan Longchuan: Sugarcane Leaves Transform into 'Golden Leaves,' Charting a New Path for Green Development

In the vast sugarcane fields of Longchuan County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, sugarcane leaves, once considered waste, have undergone a magnificent transformation. They are now a 'green engine' driving a win-win situation for ecological protection and industrial income generation. This shift marks a significant step forward for Longchuan in its journey towards green development. For a long time, the sugar industry has been a pillar of Longchuan County's economy. However, the disposal of sugarcane leaves after harvest posed a major challenge. In the past, farmers commonly burned the leaves in situ, which not only caused air pollution, obscured the clear blue sky, and emitted pungent odors, but also severely impacted the quality of life for local residents. Furthermore, burning frequently led to fires and wasted the valuable nutrients and resources contained within the leaves. Today, thanks to the concerted efforts of the government and sugarcane farmers, these previously discarded leaves have been repurposed into 'golden leaves' that boost farmers' incomes and enrich the soil. A sugarcane farmer named A Ping from Guangxiang Community Group 5 happily stated, "I cultivate 4,600 mu of sugarcane, and dealing with sugarcane leaves used to be a headache. Now, with sugarcane leaf balers, the fields are clean, pests and diseases have decreased, saving us worry and effort, and reducing production costs." Leveraging its advantage as a major sugarcane producing area, Longchuan County adheres to a strategy of 'government guidance, market operation, diversified utilization, and comprehensive coverage.' It vigorously promotes the efficient utilization of sugarcane leaves for feed, fertilizer, substrate, and energy. Statistics show that for the 2024-2025 crushing season, the county's sugarcane planting area reached 272,600 mu, with an estimated 90,000 tons of straw produced. Of this, 84,700 tons were utilized, achieving a utilization rate of 94%. This success has paved a unique path for the resource utilization of crop straw in Longchuan. Qu Shenghai, director of Longchuan County's Rural Energy Work Station, explained, "In recent years, Longchuan County has adhered to the principles of 'government promotion, market leadership, adapting to local conditions, and comprehensive advancement.' By enhancing agricultural mechanization and promoting measures such as straw returning to the field, picking and baling, and off-field utilization, we have successfully turned 'waste into treasure.'" The transformation of sugarcane leaves has not only enriched farmers' pockets and protected Longchuan's lush green mountains and clear waters but also unblocked bottlenecks in the synergistic development of the sugar industry and ecological agriculture. These small sugarcane leaves are like sparks of green development, igniting a prairie fire of rural revitalization and ecological protection in Longchuan. Looking ahead, Longchuan's vast sugarcane sea will yield even more abundant fruits on the path of green and circular development.