Villagers branching out to beat poverty

A forestry program has helped raise living standards on the Loess Plateau. Xin Wen reports from Jixian county, Shanxi.

At one time, farmers on the Loess Plateau in Shanxi province could only plant crops they knew were sturdy enough to resist the effects of frequent droughts and thrive in the area's thin soil.

However, the development of an "ecological forest" program has resulted in a wider range of choices, which means the locals are able to cultivate their own orchards while protecting the fragile ecology at the same time.