Grape growing helps Wandian township in poverty-relief

In recent years, creating new industries has been the primary method for poverty-relief in the Wandian township of Changning county, southwest Yunnan’s Baoshan city. 

Of the designs by local management, grape planting turned out to be effective in easing local poverty. And the industrial drive also aims to enable locals to have a steady income after they are removed from the impoverished list. 

In 2019, the per capita income in Wandian was 15,169 yuan and all the low-income families will be raised out poverty in 2020. Sizeable plantations are now visible in the township, forming an effective model of development.

“I’ve been working in the Changning agricultural company for a while and I’m satisfied with my wage and working hours,” said Li Guixiang, a local villager. 

Living in the remote mountainous area, Li and her husband were less informed of the changes. And they used to be working hard to make a living. Thanks to the poverty-relieve policies, local governments helped them resettle in areas with better facilities. 

The grape-planting project was funded in 2019 by outside investment. The project provided job opportunities to local villagers, helping low-income family members work near their homes.

Li Guixiang was among the first ones hired by the grape planter. A hard-worker and fast-learner, Li mastered the core skills in grape planting. The company manager spoke highly of Li and she will be further trained. 

With the CPC members taking the lead, over 205 local families had their lands rented to the Changning company, gained an annual rent of 575,000 yuan.

Jin Guojun, another villager, said he does not regret over the land renting for Jin gained more income and spare time to earn extra income. “With a large piece of land, we are able to grow new grape species in bulk and offer workers better payments,” said the company managers.

During poverty-relieve, Wandian insured a steady income for 1,991 villagers in 478 families. In the days to come, the township will brand its produces and enlarge the urban area. 

Source: Yunnan Net; trans-editing by Wang Shixue and Li Yushuangyue