Co-ops bring promise of prosperity

When visitors first see Daxiba village in Huichang county, they are often impressed by its lush lotus-covered landscape.

But for Yang Yunhua, the plant and its pink and white blossoms are more than just aesthetically pleasing - they ensure the village's future prosperity.

In May 2015, Yang set up a cooperative focused on planting lotuses and producing their seeds, which are widely used in Chinese cooking. Now the business owns and operates more than 18 hectares of land and employs 12 villagers, six of whom are defined as living in poverty.