China: Potatoes bringing growers out of poverty
summary：The potato is a major source of income for local residents in China's Gansu Province. More than 55 percent of Anding District's 119,000 hectares of arable land is used to grow potatoes, which contribute 40 to 60 percent of the district's total annual inco...
Local farmers have discovered that one way to get out of poverty is to switch to potato cultivation. The hardy crop's ability to survive cold weather, droughts and barren environments makes it perfect for the region, and high yields can be obtained. Now, Anding is one of the biggest potato producing areas in China.Anding District has developed a complete chain of potato plantation and processing. The humble spud has successfully lifted many local residents out of poverty.
In 2011, 41.3 percent of the district's 371,000 rural residents lived under the government poverty line of annual per-capita net income of 2,300 yuan ($371). Whereas by 2014, the poverty rate had dropped to 22.9 percent, and rural residents' annual per-capita net income reached 4,620 yuan ($745), according to data provided by the district government.
Last year, potato export revenue for the district reached $33 million, Jia said. Dingxi's potato and potato products have been sold across China and to countries such as the United States, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.