Potato eliminates poverty in rural Shandong

Villagers in Lanling town, Lanling county, Linyi, Shandong province have successfully eradicated poverty thanks to a cooperative organization specializing in the research, production and sale of potatoes and other vegetables.

According to Wang Yuancai, founder of the cooperative organization, the cooperative focuses on advancing potato cultivation - a commercially viable alternative to traditional corn and wheat farming, increasing the villages' prosperity.

Villagers in Lanling town plant potatoes. [Photo by Li Xiaohui/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Additionally, Wang forged a partnership with PepsiCo, a US multinational food and beverage company, which helped streamline sales processes, resulting in a more robust economic growth trajectory. This collaboration enabled villagers to lease their farmlands to contractors while also cultivating their own plots, significantly augmenting their annual earnings.

Villagers harvest potatoes to sell. [Photo by Li Xiaohui/For chinadaily.com.cn]

"We currently have 48 families on board, with each of the 96 members enjoying an income of 23,000 yuan ($3,208) annually," said Wang.

Lanling town will take advantage of local resources to facilitate the cultivation of vegetables such as potatoes and sweet potatoes through the promotion of agricultural technology. This concerted effort is geared towards advancing rural revitalization and elevating the living standards of villagers. (Edited by Chen Huang)