In Minqin, northwest China's Gansu Province, the conditions would be perfect for growing vegetables were it not for the lack of water. So, when Xu Ercai and his wife Chen Ying started growing vegetables seven years ago, their neighbors were convinced it was a waste of time. But their seemingly doomed venture has proved successful, thanks to a rural revitalization strategy launched in 2017, under which the local government helped establish a high-efficiency irrigation system. Today, the couple runs a cooperative covering 700 hectares that grows 12 varieties of vegetables.