Yao NPC deputy drives poverty alleviation through tea planting

Zhu Xuelan, an NPC deputy of the Yao ethnic group and the Party branch of Shanping village in Guangxi, takes part in an interview. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Zhu Xuelan, an NPC deputy of the Yao ethnic group and the Party branch of Shanping village, Liubao town, Cangwu county in Wuzhou, Guangxi, has dedicated herself to leading villagers out of poverty by planting Liubao tea.

With the guidance of Zhu's tea making skills, the village has planted more than 1,000 mu (66.67 hectares) of Liubao tea and was lifted out of poverty in 2016 by relying on planting and processing Liubao tea.

Zhu also took the initiative to coordinate with various parties to introduce projects and funds. The village has now successively constructed industrial projects, environmental improvement projects, and drinking water projects. A Liubao tea garden complex project and a wind power generation project were launched in the village last year, and tea processing plants are under construction, with a total of 1.7 million yuan ($238,843.6) issued by Cangwu county.

In addition, Zhu has paid attention to developing tourism in Shanping village to carry forward traditional Yao culture. She organized a Yao culture and art team, as well as held the first Yao culture festival, showcasing the original nature sounds of folk songs, colorful traditional Yao clothing, and Yao long drum performances.

Zhu said that villagers are most concerned about road construction, network communication, and agricultural products sales in remote mountainous areas. The Liubao tea industry is the pillar industry of Shanping village. The villagers hope to receive more financial and technical policy support so that its Liubao tea industry can continue to develop.