Stevia spells sweet success for farmers in Inner Mongolia

An agricultural cooperative in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region is helping defeat poverty and bringing benefits to farmers through cultivation of an exotic natural sweetener.

The cooperative began growing stevia plants in Jalaid Banner about a decade ago and has since expanded the cultivation area from 1,214 hectares to 4,047 hectares.

Stevia, which is used as a sweetener in Coca-Cola Life, "is natural, very sweet and low in calories", said Wang Gang, the banner's head of poverty alleviation.