Tailored local development strategies boost rural vitalization in Shandong county

Two villagers in Dong'e county pose for a photo with their cultivated grapes. [Photo by Li Aiming/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Dong'e county in Shandong province is striving to tailor development to local conditions, foster various industries, and lay the foundation for rural industrial vitalization.

In Aishan village, over 26.67 hectares have been dedicated to the cultivation of mugwort, an important product in the health and wellness industry. By establishing moxibustion experience centers and processing workshops, the village has integrated the processes of planting, production, processing, and sales. This initiative has enabled more than 300 villagers to increase their annual incomes by 10,000 yuan ($1,382.63) each.

Villager Yang Maoxiu said that the robust growth of the mugwort industry over the past two years has earned her 70 to 80 yuan daily, steadily improving her family's economic situation.

Aishan village has also expanded its sales through an integrated model of e-commerce and mugwort, promoting the development of digital agriculture.

In Xiaodian village, melon farmers are busy harvesting and packaging high-quality watermelons in high-standard vegetable greenhouses. Techniques such as vertical cultivation, manual pollination, and drip irrigation under mulch have resulted in watermelons that are full-bodied and crisp, making them popular among consumers.

Each watermelon greenhouse generates an annual output value of over 100,000 yuan, creating jobs for hundreds of villagers.

Dong'e county's strategy of developing agriculture, aquaculture, industry, and tourism based on local resources has paved the way for increasing farmers' incomes and prosperity. (Edited by Yang Yi)