Hechi develops industries to relieve poverty

Hechi city has made notable achievements in poverty alleviation through the development of its agricultural industries.

By the end of September, the cultivation area for walnuts in Hechi increased by 50,000 mu (3,333 hectares), making the city the biggest walnut-planting center in South China with a total cultivation area of 2.6 million mu. Land area for growing sasanqua increased by 190,000 mu, bringing the total sasanqua-growing area to 1 million mu. The total area of mulberry fields in the city reached 900,000 mu, making Hechi the number one city in China in terms of silkworm production. Seven demonstration sites have been established in the city for breeding cattle and 10 for breeding sheep. The city's fruit industries have also maintained a stable growth.

In the first three quarters of 2018, the total output value of the city's agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery industries reached 16.1 billion yuan ($2.34 billion), a year-on-year increase of 5.7 percent. This puts the city in third place among cities in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The per capita disposable income of rural residents has increased by 11 percent, reaching 6,239 yuan, the second highest in the region.

A farmer in straw hats ploughs the land with cows in Luocheng Mulao autonomous county, Hechi.[Photo by Wu Yaorong/Xinhua]