Pineapples grown on once barren land helps Chongzuo village

Villagers pick pineapples. [Photo/People's Daily]

The full harvest season has come to the pineapple plantation base in Cenyue village, Mingjiang town of Ningming county in Chongzuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with rows of pineapples now bathed in the autumn sunshine, waiting to be picked.

The plantation base was renovated from barren areas under the support of Chongzuo City Construction Group.

Zhao Juzhi, the first Party secretary of the village, noted that the pineapples are suitable for large-scale plantation as this fruit has the advantages of having a short growth cycle and can produce for years. 

Rows of pineapples in the plantation base await being picked. [Photo/People's Daily]

Currently, the plantation area of pineapples in the county has reached 990 mu (6,600 acres), with an estimated annual yield of 800 metric tons, worth 4 million yuan ($552,491). 

The average yield per mu at the base now stands at over 2,000 kilograms, which is expected to generate over 150,000 yuan in total annual income.

"I come to work at the base when I'm free and I can make 120 yuan for one day of work, allowing me to earn more money while taking care of my family," said Huang Xihua, a Cenyue village resident. 

Villagers put the collected pineapples on vehicles for further transportation. [Photo/People's Daily]

Statistics show that the base has employed 400 people as of September, bringing an additional direct income of 50,000 yuan to local villagers.