Dahuangdi aims for full-scale development

Dahuangdi village in Jilin province is sparing no effort to develop its agriculture, promote integrated development of its primary, secondary and tertiary industries and boost rural revitalization for economic gain and villagers' wellbeing.

The village, under the administration of Jilin city in Northeast China, is 25 kilometers away from downtown. It spans 10 million square meters with a population of 3,900.

Once known for its vast wild grassland, the village is now reputed for its high-quality rice that has been sold nationwide.

"At 38.4 degrees north latitude, Dahuangdi is located in the temperate zone, where rice has the proper climate to grow," said Qiao Mingru, an agricultural expert and resident of Dahuangdi.

Wetlands give the village vast stretches of black soil at a depth of more than two meters. This is the optimum fertile soil to grow rice, Qiao added.

In 2003, villager Liu Yandong founded a company named Dongfu Rice specialized in rice planting, processing and selling.

As an example of village-and-enterprise co-existence to boost the income of villagers, the company rents land usage rights from farmers at 15,500 yuan ($2,300) per hectare.

The farmers who transferred their land usage rights have priority in getting jobs in local grain processing companies and hot spring tourist resorts.

"Eighty percent of the villagers are employed by Dongfu Rice, with an average annual income of 100,000 yuan per household," said Wang Jing, a member of the Dahuangdi village committee.

According to the Development Research Center of the Jilin Provincial government, a total of 1,300 hectares of farmland in Dahuangdi village is operated and managed by planting companies.

Seedling cultivation, transplanting, fertilizing and harvesting in the village is done by machine. This lowers the production cost by 15 percent and improves the per unit area yield by 18 percent, according to the development research center.

Taking advantage of the internet, the village not only sells rice online, but also established an online traceability system.

It allows consumers to buy the local rice and trace its source in an easier way.

Meanwhile, the village is extending the agricultural industry chain to develop agricultural tourism.

Integrating agricultural tourism with the village's hot spring, folk culture, cuisine and Manchu culture, the village is striving to develop its tourism industry. Their annual reception capacity stands at 500,000 visits.

Relying on the integrated development of multiple industries, Dahuangdi village is not only improving its economic efficiency, but also reinforcing the construction of a public service system.

This optimizes the living environment and living standards of the villagers, according to the development research center.

The village has built 31 residences, which can hold 924 families. Apartments for the elderly, which were constructed in the village, are open to locals who are over 65 years old.

A village clinic has also been set up by the Jilin City People's Hospital to meet the medical needs of locals.

Dahuangdi is now planning to construct a primary school to improve its education.