Once plagued by the difficulty of growing crops on the saline-alkali land along the Yellow River, Xiaopo faced severe economic challenges. In 1998, the village’s per capita annual income was less than 500 yuan (about 68 U.S. dollars).
Today, Xiaopo’s fortunes have improved significantly. The village now boasts a vast number of plastic greenhouses spread over 10,000 mu (about 666.7 hectares), filled with winter jujubes.
Winter jujubes, also known as red dates, are sweet fruits enjoyed both fresh and crisp. The jujubes produced in Xiaopo are well received by the market, generating an income of over 80,000 yuan per mu – Chinese unit of area (around 666.6 square meters).
The transformation project, initiated for local farmers’ economic growth and collective economy, was guided by the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) county committee. According to Xue Anquan, Party Chief of Xiaopo Village, jujube plantation began in the area 20 years ago.
After seven years of effort since 2001, the jujube cultivation, which started from scratch, began to thrive. Learning to grow these fruits on the saline-alkali lands around Xiaopo was not an easy task. Villagers carried out countless experiments over several years before they learned how to keep the seedlings alive.
In the following years, Xiaopo Village continued to promote the development of the industry through technological innovation and brand building, with support from the government of Dali.
Agricultural experts were employed to help farmers improve techniques for growing winter jujubes in greenhouses, including light and temperature control, and the prevention of diseases and pests.
After six years, they started to make a profit, following a period of exploration, study, and irrigation. With the help of new techniques over the past 20 years, productivity has greatly increased. The jujube industry has grown rapidly, leading to growth and prosperity for the villagers.
Once designated as a provincial-level poverty region, Xiaopo has now become a beacon of hope. Local farmers’ income has increased more than 20 times compared to 20 years ago.
Normally, jujubes can only be harvested in winter, but with greenhouses, they can be harvested in different planting seasons. Additionally, a supply industrial chain was formed for production and distribution. Today, the village’s 900 households all benefit from the project, with more than 100 vehicles and their own houses. This progress is attributed to the efforts of the CPC and poverty alleviation initiatives.
The park has around 6,000 greenhouses, and 4,000 individuals work in the jujube plantation. On an area of around 600 square meters, they can harvest 1,500 kilograms per year using organic fertilizers. The government provides policies, investments, irrigation, electricity, and infrastructure, along with subsidies for local farmers to buy greenhouses. According to Xue Anquan, local farmers express sincere thanks to the Communist Party of China and its policies.
The village has very fertile soil for the growth of jujubes and a high day-to-night temperature difference, which produces high-quality jujubes. According to Xue Anquan, they work tirelessly to upgrade greenhouse technology, maintaining a two-meter distance between jujube trees and closely monitoring the plants from planting to flowering until maturity and harvesting.
The process for jujubes to fully mature takes 110 days. A jujube tree can grow as high as seven meters, but technology has been introduced to lower the trees to fit in the greenhouse, making them easier to pick during harvest.
Jujubes were chosen for the area as they are suitable for the salty land. They are also used to produce juice and vinegar. Xiaopo Village has extended the industrial chain covering storage, logistics, e-commerce, and product processing to increase added value and ensure quality.
The success of Xiaopo Village speaks volumes about China’s countrywide efforts to alleviate poverty. With the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese people decisively changed their destiny, achieving remarkable milestones, particularly in poverty alleviation.
By 2020, China witnessed an extraordinary pace of poverty reduction, lifting one person out of poverty every 2.24 seconds, amounting to 10 million people annually since 2012. In 2021, China declared the eradication of extreme poverty, having lifted 770 million people out of poverty since 1978, and established a moderately prosperous society.
This success was driven by a comprehensive approach involving officials working in impoverished areas, significant central government funding, and broad societal participation, contributing to over 70% of global poverty reduction. Agriculture played a crucial role in this endeavor, supported by various initiatives, including subsidies for machinery and the abolition of agricultural taxes, leading to a mechanization rate surpassing 70% for major crops.
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