Yang Kaixiang: From poverty-stricken villager to model for poverty alleviation

Dressed in farming clothes and with a tanned face, Yang  Haixiang did look like a farmer, but not a millionaire.

Living in Tongzi Village in southeast Yunnan’s Pingbian County, Yang Kaixiang’s family was once a poverty-stricken household. He had to look after his aging parents while also nurturing those of the younger generation. His family was indebted and couldn’t live on their small fixed income. But this situation began to change in 2012 when Yang Kaixiang, introduced by his relatives, started to plant fructus amomi. At that time, Yang was the first Tongzi villager who grew the crop.

As a beginner, Yang was very careful and prudent in his first-year planting. He spent time recording the growth of fructus amomi and the impact of weather changes on the cash crop. He even traveled hundreds of kilometers away to learn from other growers. Where there is a will, there is a way. Yang Kaixiang succeeded in his first year and earned more than 10,000 yuan.

“I just wanted to have a try. The success was unexpected. But that was a big encouragement to me. So, in the ensuing years, I expand the farm,” said Yang Kaixiang. Now, he plants 16 acres of fructus amomi each year. His total income exceeds one million yuan,.

From a poverty-stricken resident to a millionaire, Yang Kaixiang always thinks about how to help his fellow villagers climb out of poverty. He sells fructus amomi seedlings to them at a price lower than market value, and teaches them his planting skills.

“I have worked for Yang Kaixiang for more than five years. Now my daily salary is 100 yuan and I can also learn how to plant fructusamomi from him,” said villager Yang Baoming. His family grows more than an acre of fructus amomi this year.

Today, under the influence of Yang Kaixiang, there are more than 300 poverty-stricken households growing fructusamomi in Tongzi Village. The total planting area covers 1,650 acres in the village, which generates a value exceeding 80 million yuan. More and more villagers are benefiting from the industry.

 

Yang Kaixiang: From poverty-stricken villager to model for poverty alleviation

Dressed in farming clothes and with a tanned face, Yang Haixiang did look like a farmer, but not a millionaire. Living in Tongzi Village in southeast Yunnans Pingbian County, Yang Kaixiangs family was once a poverty-stricken household. He had to look after his aging parents while also nurturing those of the younger generation. His family was indebted and couldnt live on their small fixed income. But this situation began to change in 2012 when Yang Kaixiang, introduced by his relatives, started to plant fructus amomi. At that time, Yang was the first Tongzi villager who grew the crop. As a beginner, Yang was very careful and prudent in his first-year planting. He spent time recording the growth of fructus amomi and the impact of weather changes on the cash crop. He even traveled hundreds of kilometers away to learn from other growers. Where there is a will, there is a way. Yang Kaixiang succeeded in his first year and earned more than 10,000 yuan. I just wanted to have a try. The success was unexpected. But that was a big encouragement to me. So, in the ensuing years, I expand the farm, said Yang Kaixiang. Now, he plants 16 acres of fructus amomi each year. His total income exceeds one million yuan,. From a poverty-stricken resident to a millionaire, Yang Kaixiang always thinks about how to help his fellow villagers climb out of poverty. He sells fructus amomi seedlings to them at a price lower than market value, and teaches them his planting skills. I have worked for Yang Kaixiang for more than five years. Now my daily salary is 100 yuan and I can also learn how to plant fructusamomi from him, said villager Yang Baoming. His family grows more than an acre of fructus amomi this year. Today, under the influence of Yang Kaixiang, there are more than 300 poverty-stricken households growing fructusamomi in Tongzi Village. The total planting area covers 1,650 acres in the village, which generates a value exceeding 80 million yuan. More and more villagers are benefiting from the industry.