The confidence of villagers of Panjiawan Township in central China's Hubei Province has been reinforced in creating a happy and prosperous life following a visit by President Xi Jinping.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited a vegetable farm and the Siyi Village in Hubei's Xianning City on Tuesday to learn about the local efforts in advancing rural revitalization.
At the farm, Xi checked the vegetables and asked about vegetable varieties, cultivation techniques and sales channels.
"The General Secretary genuinely cares about agriculture. He asked very detailed and professional questions. He also examined the growth of the vegetables," said Liu Zhaohui, a technician of Panjiawan Town Agricultural Technology Service Center.
Covering an area of 1,800 hectares, the township's vegetable farms produce 210,000 tons of vegetables annually.
Thanks to continuous efforts in industrial revitalization, the township has successfully nurtured kale varieties based on the local environment, reducing dependence on imported varieties.
"Before 2006 and 2007, 90 percent of the kale varieties were imported. In 2007 and 2008, we collaborated with a team of experts and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to cultivate new varieties based on local climate conditions and planting habits," said Zhang Jianjian, vice general manager of Hubei Jinrun Agricultural Development Company.
Brands like "Jiayu Kale" have secured the national geographical indication certification. The vegetable industry contributes an average annual income increase of 16,000 yuan (about 2230 U.S. dollars) per capita for farmers.
Xi's visit has reinforced the confidence of local farmers and agricultural experts in pursuing paths driven by science and technology, and further enhancing vegetable farming to benefit local people.
"Our team has six full-time technicians dedicated to agricultural technology services year-round. Throughout the entire production cycle, we will provide services, implement agricultural policies, offer guidance on disease and pest control. We also use the vegetable supply and demand information provided by our town's vegetable association to help farmers. When out-of-town merchants come here, we are a bridge for them to work with local farmers. Every year, we organize experts to provide professional training for farmers. Therefore, farmers here have a high level of expertise in vegetable cultivation," said Liu Zhaohui.
In Siyi Village, Xi visited an elderly care center and a community service center to check elderly care facilities and community services, and learn about the operation of the village-level organizations.
"I was very happy to meet President Xi today. We have three meals a day here. With the price of 300 yuan a month, we are offered a variety of dishes including meat, fish, shrimp. We are so happy," said Wang Jinxi, an elderly villager.
"The General Secretary is very concerned about reducing the burden at the grassroots level and the daily life issues of people. He asked us about our workload. We told him many service items have been reduced because many can be handled online, which saves a lot hassle for people," said Huang Ling, a village official.
Xi also visited a villager's home, and chatted with the family about their work and income, and the community's elderly care and health care.
"He asked me where I work now, and I said I work in Shenzhen. He asked how many years I have been there, and I told him it has been two years. I can go out to pursue my career with peace of mind because my parents' income is stable. They have land, too. The village has medical, recreational and dining facilities, very complete. We are very relieved about their life at home," said Xiong Wei, another villager.
From amenities like basketball courts to enhanced elderly care center, the village is dedicated to meeting diverse needs and ensuring a high quality of life for residents.
Xi's visit has further ignited villagers' enthusiasm for rural revitalization, with a shared commitment to creating a prosperous and happy life.
"The sporting equipment, as well as the basketball courts and children's playgrounds were all built in recent years. The people here are very happy," Huang said.
"I have never thought life would be so sweet. We dance and sing at night, and play cards in the afternoon. It's so enjoyable. I'm feeling really happy. I believe I could live to a hundred!" said Wang Jinxi.
Xi's visit boosts confidence of Hubei villagers in achieving rural prosperity
