Growing a better life

While new apartments and new roads are a good beginning, industrial development and jobs are essential for sustainable growth.

Ciqu Laza's family fell into poverty when her two sons died, leaving her with five grandchildren to bring up. The septuagenarian gets various government allowances, yet she still cherishes working to add some money to the family coffers. She is in good health and has found a job clearing weeds in a blueberry plantation. "I earn over 2,000 yuan ($295) every month, that's really nice," she told Beijing Review.

Before the plantation came up, Ciqu and other villagers grew potato or buckwheat, which meant a lot of labor but a meager income. Now besides their wages, they can also earn more money by leasing their land to the plantation. She can earn a rent of 10,000 yuan ($1,474) every year.

The blueberry plantation, established in 2019, is a flagship project for poverty alleviation in Butuo County. According to Shang Zhaoyang, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Commerce in Butuo, the abundant sunshine and the soil are highly suitable for large-scale blueberry cultivation. "China's blueberry market has a huge potential to tap," he said.

The 240-hectare plantation has been co-funded by the local government and Tian Zhimei, a leading agricultural company in Sichuan, which sent technicians to instruct the villagers how to manage the plantation. When the blueberries ripen, the company sends personnel to buy them at a guaranteed price, which has greatly reduced risks.

Developing agriculture is creating jobs and perking up farmers' income. But still more can be done to add value to agricultural products. "We plan to build a cold storage and extend the industrial chain to create more profits," Shang said.