Yizhou, a county-level district in Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has been advancing the development of its sericulture industry in recent years to boost its poverty alleviation efforts.

In 2019, the total planation area of mulberries in the district reached 372,000 mu (24,800 hectares), covering 16 townships, as well as 202 villages and communities. Among them, 23,000 mu were planted by impoverished people, while the number of impoverished households in the district that bred silkworms exceeded 8,600.

Mulberry growing and silkworm breeding in Yizhou this year generated a total income of 180 million yuan ($25.67 million) for impoverished people, of which 12,000 were lifted out of poverty.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), Yizhou is set to lift 65 impoverished villages and 57,909 impoverished people out of poverty. It was listed as one of the eight non-impoverished counties in Guangxi with the heaviest poverty alleviation tasks.

Sixteen leading enterprises, 704 farmers' cooperatives, and 74 family farms that are involved in sericulture were developed in the district, cultivating 15,000 technical talents and driving 26,100 impoverished people to breed silkworms.

A scientific and technological innovation service platform integrating research and development, as well as entrepreneurship and business incubation was also set up in Yizhou. To date, about 70 machines and tools related to silkworms and mulberries have been invented, with a leading utilization rate around the country.

In addition, Yizhou has been improving its sericulture centered industrial chains.

The 17 cocoon silk processing enterprises in the district have employed more than 2,600 impoverished people so far, increasing their annual per capita income by 45,000 yuan.

The operation model that integrates leading enterprises, demonstration zones, cooperatives, and impoverished silkworm breeding households has been promoted in the Liusanjie Sericulture Efficient Ecological Industry (Core) Demonstration Zone in Yizhou.

Impoverished families who take part in the joint operation have achieved an increase of 40,000 yuan per household in income in the forms of land leases, labor services, and equity sharing.

A worker deals with silkworm cocoons in Yizhou district, Hechi. [Photo/Hechi Daily]