Hechi sets out agricultural priorities

A meeting to analyze the performance of Hechi's agricultural economy in the first quarter of 2021 was held on Feb 24, summarizing the city's agricultural development in 2020 and setting out a work plan for 2021.

The city has continued to give priority to the development of agriculture and rural areas after meeting its targets and winning the battle against poverty last year.

Hechi's total agricultural output in 2020 was 33.2 billion yuan ($5.13 billion) while the added value of primary industries grew by 5.2 percent year on year, making Hechi the sixth-fastest growing area in Guangxi.

The per capita disposable income of urban residents was 30,881 yuan, with a year-on-year increase of 4.1 percent while the figure for rural residents was 11,074 yuan, climbing 9.2 percent year on year.

Wang Jun, acting mayor of the city, deputy secretary of the CPC Hechi Municipal Committee and Party chief of Bama Yao autonomous county, pointed out that 2021 marks the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and is the first year for promoting comprehensive rural revitalization.

He said that the city will strive to increase the added value of its primary industry by 10 percent in 2021, with growth for the first quarter already hitting 12 percent.

Wang added that the planting industry will be the main driver behind agricultural economic growth, while pork and silk production should be the biggest foundation for economic development. He also mentioned that the forestry industry will become a new economic center for the agricultural sector.