Poverty alleviation: Fighting poverty one village at a time

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China's days as a developing country may be far from over. But tackling one of its core weaknesses – poverty – starts with its people.

Poverty

Two communities in east China's Fujian Province are working to overcome poverty, one via agriculture, the other via travel and tourism.

Throughout the year, farmers in the city of Fuding help harvest the area's favorite local crop, the taro.

"We have been doing this for decades," said farmer Wang Qihui as he shoveled dirt. "The whole village counts on this."

Looking around Qihui's home, the humble Toucheng Village, one realizes how much the livelihood of the people relies on crop success. Experts say demand for taros are high throughout the year, bringing a motivating spirit to workers while they help their families put food on the table.

"For years we had to sell these ourselves," recalls Qihui. "Now we have help from an outside company."

That outside company – Fuding Jia Bo Wen Agricultural Science and Technology.

Clothes hang out to dry in a Chixi villager's yard. /CGTN Photo

"Toucheng Village is one of our partners for taro growing," says Cai Fuqiang, Vice General Manager with Fuding Jia Bo Wen. "We're able to help the farmers with financing and crop growing technology, while we market a quality product."

A peaceful village

That same spirit lives on in the village of Chixi, about an hour southwest of Toucheng.

Located beneath majestic mountain tops and surrounded by calm, clean rivers, Chixi has become a magnet for tourists, especially those looking to escape cold temperatures back home.

"This area has great air and great weather," said Qin Ya, a visitor from Beijing. "It also has a beautiful habitat, and we're glad to be here."

But times weren't always great. In 1984, Wang Shaojun, a local public relations expert wrote to Chinese newspapers explaining the once dire situation in Chixi.

"I have never stopped focusing my work on alleviating poverty," said Wang, the former Vice Director of Ningde's Department of Public Relations. "The hardest thing in Chixi was changing villagers minds about how they could live."

Chixi has come a long way, but experts say it has a long way to go. Locals today survive on an average income of only 15,000 yuan per year. Wang says the positive trend of the past, needs to carry into the future.

"We still need to work toward making Chixi a moderately prosperous society," he says. "The GDP here has increased, but the area's mindset needs to stay positive and look ahead."