Xiao Zhengqiang: Revitalize diverse economic growth in rural areas

Pingyuan village now explores diverse development paths through enterprise and farmer cooperation. [Photo/ddcpc website]

In the past, the industrial structure of Pingyuan village in Southwest China's Guizhou province was lacking, the village collective economy was weak, and there was insufficient development momentum.

Since Xiao Zhengqiang took office as the Party secretary, Pingyuan has explored the development model of "village cooperative + company + farmers" and cultivated special industries such as vegetables, pig farming, nurseries, and Sichuan peppers. This has broadened the channels for villagers to increase their income.

This year, Pingyuan has intercropped Chinese medicinal materials beneath 300 mu (20 hectares) of Sichuan pepper trees, adopting a model of "short-term crops supporting long-term crops, dual harvest from one land," further maximizing the economic benefits of the land.

"Villagers increase their income through land transfer and participate in the daily management and maintenance of the Chinese medicinal materials base, achieving 'double' income," said Xiao, who is also a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC).

The village cooperative has signed a purchase contract with a Chinese medicinal material enterprise in Liupanshui, ensuring worry-free sales of medicinal materials with an estimated output value of about 5,000 yuan ($690.5) per mu.

"By the end of last year, the village's collective economy accumulated about 1.6 million yuan. This year, the village plans to add 80 mu of strawberry planting, build a chicken farm with an annual output of 110,000 chickens, and a 300-square-meter rice noodle processing workshop," said Xiao of this year's development plan.

As an NPC deputy, Xiao has always been concerned about rural development. Last year, he proposed suggestions for protecting and developing traditional villages, which received widespread attention. This year, he once again focused on the deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism, advocating for formulating rural tourism support policies.