Dendrobium officinale, one of the China's most precious medicinal herbs, is planted on the mountain cliff in Taining county, Sanming, East China's Fujian province [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The planting of Dendrobium officinale, one of the China's most precious medicinal herbs, has become a special and advantageous agricultural undertaking of Taining county, Sanming, East China's Fujian province in recent years, which significantly boosts the local economy.

The county pioneered in China the planting of the herb on mountain cliffs to realize the medicinal values of wild Dendrobium officinale.

It started the planting in 2011 and currently houses six companies specializing in the planting of the herb, with a farm area of nearly 667 hectares. The fresh herbs and processed products from them generate around 300 million yuan ($44.4 million) of revenue every year.

"The Dendrobium officinale usually takes three to five years to ripen. It is very expensive due to its rarity and high medicinal value, about 3,000 yuan per 500 grams for fresh ones and 10,000 yuan for processed dry ones," said Chen Qiyang, an official from the local forestry department.

When the herbs ripen, usually in winter, the companies will hire local residents to climb the mountain to pick them and offer them 500 yuan a day, which also increases the residents' income.

The Dendrobium officinale of Taining county was listed as a special regional product under State protection in December 2016.

The local government also granted subsidies of 4,000 yuan for the planting of every mu (666 square meters) on mountain cliffs to encourage the agricultural undertaking.

It plans to attract more investment in the future to develop the local planting of Dendrobium officinale into a special and pillar industry of Taining.