Industrial development key to raising Hechi villager's income

Since beginning his work in Nongteng Village in Dahua Yao autonomous region, Hechi in 1991 after graduating from senior high school, Huang Shuquan has been spearheading local poverty alleviation efforts in the designated national poverty stricken village.

"The key to a job well done lies in whether people are rich or not," said Huang, who has been serving as the village's Party secretary for over 10 years.

To increase villagers' incomes and improve their lives, Huang has focused on developing industries rooted in local conditions.

In 2008, Huang introduced a walnut variety that is suitable to plant in rocky desertification areas, developing it as the village's pillar industry. Currently, more than 5,800 mu (386.67 hectares) of walnuts planted have been bearing fruit.

A 5 mu demonstration area for dendrobium officinale, which adopts an operation model of farmers sharing profits according to contributions, was also established in the village. The dendrobium officinale is expected to be produced after two years, with a continuous output for 10 years, generating an estimated annual output value of 1.6 million yuan ($225,949.73).

By taking advantage of the Qibainong National Geological Park in the county, which was designated as a national 3A-level tourist spot in 2011, Huang has improved the village's infrastructure, opening homestays to develop its rural tourism.

As a result, the per capita income of the village has increased from less than 1,000 yuan to more than 2,600 yuan.