China Footprint: Targeted poverty alleviation

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China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty over the past forty years. But pockets of poverty remain, and in its quest to become a moderately prosperous society, the government has been implementing a targeted poverty alleviation program in areas that need help the most.

In Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hunan Province, many villages lying in scenic mountains have long been plagued by poverty. Until recently, its people had lived in remote areas and development had been difficult. However, things have been changing fast since the targeted poverty alleviation program began in 2013.

Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture in central China's Hunan Province is famous for its natural beauty. /CGTN Photo by Peter Stolz

For beekeeper Luo Gang from Xiwa Village, who used to be trapped in poverty, his fascination with bees has now turned into his livelihood thanks to the targeted poverty alleviation program. The program helped him buy hives and equipment necessary to become a beekeeper, and now he is a success.

Luo's honey harvest has doubled every year. He said that has increased his income, which was less than ten thousand yuan (about 1,544 US dollars) in 2014 and very likely to be 60,000 yuan (about 9,263 US dollars) this year. This golden bounty means he has been able to send his daughter to university, buy a motorcycle and provide a future for his family.

Luo is now preparing to train his village neighbors in the art of beekeeping. He also plans to set up a beekeeping cooperative and register his own brand to boost the community's fortunes.

Luo Gang is revolutionizing the indigenous way of beekeeping and has invented a double-deck honeycomb. /CGTN Photo by Peter Stolz

The targeted poverty alleviation program began here in Xiangxi in 2013 after Chinese President Xi Jinping came to the beautiful village of Shibadong. Xi asked about villagers' living conditions and stressed the importance of precision in eliminating poverty.

Li Weiguo, director of the Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of Xiangxi, explained that the essence of targeted poverty alleviation is first of all embodied in precise targets.

"Back in the old days, we helped almost every entrepreneur, no matter whether they were poor or not," he said. "But now we are helping impoverished families who really need help."

Li added that the government had sent thousands of officials to the frontline of the battle against poverty and set a very strict goal for them to lift all poor residents out of poverty by 2020.

Shibadong villager Shi Bashan (L) still remembers when Chinese President Xi Jinping stopped by her home and shook her hands in 2013. /CGTN Photo by Peter Stolz

Targeted poverty alleviation also means that local officials will study different conditions of each and every poor family and help them according to their unique situations.

Impoverished families in Xiangxi are now helped by experts in their villages. The government and experts will design different plans to precisely target different families.

For example, Xiangxi is rapidly becoming the kiwi capital of China after the fruit was identified as suitable for mass production in this area. To set up a kiwi farm in Shibadong, a special work team persuaded villagers to partner with an agricultural company and pool their money. Considering the lack of farmland in the village, locals were guided to transfer nearly 500 acres of land somewhere nearby.

Kiwi trees in Shibadong Village start bearing fruits this year and will harvest soon. /CGTN Photo by Peter Stolz

And the policy seems to be paying off. During the past three years, 275 villages have been lifted out of poverty in the Xiangxi region, totaling 350,000 people. With the rural residents' disposable personal income (DPI) rising to 7,413 yuan last year, people living in the prefecture now have an unprecedented sense of benefit.

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China Footprint (CGTN's special series):

Episode 1: How a 'secret deal' transforms lives of Chinese farmers

Episode 2: Large scale farming leads to high productivity in China

Episode 3: Shenzhen: Lodestar of China's economic reform

Episode 4: Shanghai free trade zone attracts major multinational corporations

Episode 5: Infrastructure brings prosperity to China's rural communities

Episode 6: From expressways to high-speed railways