70 years sees Wudang's achievements in agricultural transformation

Wudang district in Guiyang, in Southwest China's Guizhou province, has seen great changes in its rural revitalization over the past 70 years, thanks to its constant efforts in beautifying rural areas, promoting agriculture industrial reform and increasing farmers' incomes. 

By Oct 24, 2019, the district was home to 131,000 mu (8733.33 hectares) of fruit trees, annually producing 25,000 metric tons of fruit and output value of 253 million yuan ($36.08 million). 

Farmers pick tea leaves on a plantation in Wudang. [Photo/gzwd.gov.cn]

Anduo village in Wudang is one of the places that have benefited from the district's thriving agricultural development, as the village turned itself from a geographically isolated place with stagnant agriculture to one that features kiwi fruit plantations and is well connected with the outside world. 

"More than a decade ago, we only planted some corn and were only just able to feed and clothe ourselves, and our young people had to find work outside the area," said Zhang Haiqin, a villager from Anduo. 

To alter the poor outlook for Anduo, the district government took action to expand the roads and adjust industrial structures in the village by planting kiwi fruits. 

In 2014, Anduo's kiwi fruit plantation covered more than 40 mu and was expanded in 2017. At present, it has reached 500 mu, thanks to land transfers and share-holding through cooperatives. With the increase in kiwi fruit farmers and planting areas, Anduo is planning to use more land for fruit planting. 

Rural development dynamics have been regularly released through a of series measures taken by Wudang, including enriching plant varieties, improving the area's appearance and constructing agricultural parks. 

By Oct 24, Wudang had seven vegetable plantation bases, each covering more than 500 mu and producing a total of 92,000 tons and output value of 349 million yuan a year. 

Different kinds of medicinal herbs now cover 35,700 mu in Wudang, bringing about annual production of 4,790 tons and output value of 23.70 million yuan. Tea plantations now cover 13,340 mu, producing 318 tons of tea leaves a year and output value of 43 million yuan.