Luocheng improves agricultural structure to increase farmers' income

In recent years, the Luocheng Mulam autonomous county in Hechi has strategically optimized its agricultural industry structure, focusing on the development of key sectors, including beef production, sugarcane cultivation, the production of raw materials for river snail rice noodles, and specialty fruits.

The per capita disposable income of rural residents in the county is projected to increase by 9 percent in 2023.

In 2023, the county implemented high-standard farmland construction in 13 areas totaling 25,000 mu (1,666 hectares). It also achieved breakthroughs in high-yield rice farmland of 9,642 mu and high-yield corn farmland of 6,100 mu and conducted 38 training sessions that benefited 3,800 individuals.

Despite a marginal 0.06 percent year-on-year increase in grain production, the county made significant strides in the beef industry,  establishing 46 farms with over 50 cattle each, totaling 90,000 cattle, and cultivating over 20,000 mu of pasture. Notably, a 500-million-yuan ($71.4-million) land-based circular pond aquaculture project covering 22,300 mu was prioritized.

Furthermore, the county has successfully engaged 12,000 households in the river snail rice noodle raw material industry, cultivating 23,000 mu of land to offer raw materials to the specific Guangxi delicacy. In 2023, vegetable production reached 203,700 metric tons, a 10.35 percent increase, while poultry, beef cattle, sheep, and aquatic product production saw respective year-on-year growth rates of 2.57 percent, 11.64 percent, 6.14 percent, and 5.5 percent.

The county also expanded its sugarcane cultivation to 171,500 mu, involving 9,103 farmers, with an expected yield of 650,000 tons. The county prioritized the development of specialty fruit industries, resulting in an 11.39 percent year-on-year increase, and the annual production reached 159,400 tons in 2023.