Rural Pingyao nurtures growth of Chinese yam sector

The Chinese yam planting base in Yuebei village in Yuebi town in North China's Pingyao county has recently seen its farmers bustling with activity. 

Yuebi town, a traditional Chinese yam production area in the county, is famous for its large, sweet and quality Chinese yams which sell well at home and abroad. 

To further boost the development of the local Chinese yam industry and increase local farmers' incomes, the town has accelerated construction of Chinese yam theme town project since May -- with the planting base in Yuebei village a key part of the project. 

With a total investment of more than 40 million yuan ($5.73 million), the project is using cultivated lands and land from collectives in six villages in the town to build a Chinese yam theme town integrating Chinese yam planting, storage, sightseeing, product development, processing, trading and academic research. 

Officials said it will create positive benefits by promoting partnerships between companies, agricultural cooperatives and farmers. 

Once completed, it is expected to encourage 8,000 local farming households to plant Chinese yams across 4 square kilometers and produce 130,000 metric tons of yams annually.

The project will also lure 1.6 million tourists each year to come from the Ancient City of Pingyao to sample the yams and travel in the Chinese yam-themed town, generating annual revenue exceeding 20 million yuan. 

Currently, the production and storage workshops included in the first phase of the project have completed construction of their foundations and are expected to be put into use in mid-September.

The next phase -- involving sub-projects of a cultural experience, accommodation, catering and Yuebei water theme town -- is being planned.