Chinese medicine helps Guiyang alleviate poverty

Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, announced on Jan 14 that it had planted 220,000 mu (14,667 hectares) of traditional Chinese medicine herbs, local media reported on Jan 15.

The city's total production volume of traditional Chinese medicine reached 28,000 tons last year and generated more than 400 million yuan ($62 million) in revenue, bringing benefits to as many as 7,000 households and increasing the average household income by 1,800 yuan.

Last year, Guiyang initiated a plan to adjust the structure of the agriculture industry by planting more traditional Chinese medicine herbs, including motherworts, bletilla and different varieties of ginseng.

Additionally, the city actively supports the development of traditional Chinese medicine companies, boosting sales by setting up a direct relationship between the companies and local farmers. So far, more than 100 impoverished villages have established partnerships with more than 40 leading companies and agricultural cooperatives.

The city aims to take full advantage of the Chinese medicine industry, with plans to build gardens and parks where visitors can appreciate the herbs and learn about the production process.