Flowers propel poverty alleviation efforts in Hechi village

The chrysanthemums at the Dashapo poverty alleviation industrial park in Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county in Hechi entered the harvest season recently.

The Dashapo poverty alleviation industrial park, with a total planned investment of 300 million yuan ($42.79 million), mainly focuses on the planting of tea-oil trees and Chinese herbal medicines. Currently, more than 12,000 mu (800 hectares) of oil trees have been cultivated in the industrial park.

"However, tea-oil trees need five to six years to bear fruits," said Wei Liguang, director of Muben Oil Plants Industry Development Center. "Chrysanthemums for medicine can be harvested when planted in the same year, providing obvious economic benefits in a short time."

Therefore, chrysanthemums were planted under the tea-oil trees. The planting area of chrysanthemums at the industrial park now totals 2,216 mu, with an annual output of 100 to 150 kilograms of dried flowers per mu. The total output value can reach 7.09 million yuan.

According to Wei, after the industrial park start to reap economic returns, an industrial poverty alleviation and development fund will be established to support the future development of households that have been lifted out of poverty.

Villagers pick chrysanthemums at the Dashapo poverty alleviation industrial park in Huanjiang Maonan autonomous county in Hechi. [Photo/Hechi Daily]