Bama's eco-friendly economy increases income of poor households

Bama Yao autonomous county, a national-level poverty-stricken county in Hechi, has been developing its eco-friendly economy in recent years to increase the income of impoverished households in the county.

The local government had previously made great efforts to develop its mineral smelting industry. The industry’s high pollution, energy consumption, and waste emissions levels caused great damage to the local ecological environment.

After the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the county shut down polluting enterprises, strengthened its environmental pollution reduction measures, and focused on the development of eco-friendly industries, such as natural mineral water, healthy food, and healthcare tourism.

Bama boasts extensive high quality natural mineral water resources, attracting several enterprises to invest in its mineral water industry. In 2018, the output of mineral water in the county was 158,200 metric tons, with a year-on-year growth of 30.2 percent, while the output value reached 225.63 million yuan ($32.15 million), increasing by 25.9 percent year-on-year.

The high aero-anion concentration makes the local chicken tender and tasty, with the market demand exceeding supply.

The breeding demonstration base for poverty alleviation in the county’s Bailin township has lifted 550 people from 127 impoverished households in five villages out of poverty. An average annual income increase of 4,252 yuan was added per poor household.

Bama has been honored worldwide as a “World Longevity Village.” Statistics show that the permanent resident population in the county was 236,400 by the end of 2018, with 88 centenarians, which is far more than the world average of seven out of 100,000 people.

Coupled with its pleasant climate and beautiful natural environment, Bama has been developing its health tourism industry in recent years.

“The natural and cultural environment in Bama supports the development of its health tourism industry,” said Huang Yanfei, director of the county’s culture, radio, television, sports and tourism bureau.

To further boost the development of its health tourism industry, Bama has been improving its infrastructure construction, with the Hechi-Baise Expressway opening to traffic at the end of 2018.

According to Huang, the number of visitors to Bama surpassed 6.6 million in 2018, including over 30,000 overseas tourists.

Bama Yao autonomous county in Hechi boasts beautiful natural scenery. [Photo by Huang Dayou/Xinhua]