[China story] Milk girl becomes big grower

He Hongmei is an intelligent Naxiwoman from in northwest Yunnan’s Lijiang. Recently, she sold 300,000 Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis seedlings, which she grew over many years. She sold them to more than 60 households in six villages of Tai’an Township in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, indicating that the former “milk girl” has become a big grower of medicinal herbs.

In 2001, upon graduating from the Food Science Department at Southwest University for Nationalities, He Hongmei came to Lijiang Ecological Milk Company Limited and became a “milk girl”. In a little more than two years, she was promoted from a laboratory technician to general manager. 

The ecological milk company—the first and only milk producer in Lijiang— has helped nearly 2,000 households become rich from raising dairy cows. While doing well in her career, however, the “milk girl” thought of “job-hopping”.

In 2008, He Hongmei established Lijiang Shengtai Agricultural Development Company Limited. Two years later, the company leased more than 60 hectares of mountainous land beside for planting and breeding Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis.

Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis has a long growth cycle. Cultivating it requires a large captial investment and strict planting regimen. In the past few years, He Hongmei worked diligently at her farm more than 2,800 metres above sea level. She sought cooperation with multiple parties and overcame many technological difficulties.

Last year, her company achieved revenue of more than two million yuan from sales of Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis. Just selling the seedlings brought in more than 1.3 million yuan.

Adopting the operation model of “company plus base plus farmers”, He Hongmei helped farmers in surrounding areas to increase their incomes as well. “A dozen local villagers work at the base all year round,” said He Hongmei. More people are needed at the base during the busy season. Last year, labour costs alone exceeded 300,000 yuan, and she spent more than 200,000 yuan buying manure to use as fertiliser. In addition, she provided field training for more than 60 households in Tai’an Township.

Editor: Wang Shixue