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Accelerating the high-quality leapfrog development to build a demonstration zone for common prosperity relies heavily on the “Three Rural Issues” (agriculture, rural areas, and farmers). The shortcomings lie in the “Three Rural Issues”, the highlights are in the “Three Rural Issues”, and the main battleground is also in the “Three Rural Issues”.
Comprehensive rural revitalization is key to addressing shortcomings. Over the past year, Lishui City, which has the highest number of economically weak villages and the heaviest tasks among the prefecture-level cities in the province, has focused on strengthening and expanding new forms of rural collective economies as a crucial strategy for grassroots foundation building. With a commitment to practical and effective measures and leveraging targeted reforms, Lishui has made significant strides in improving the quality of collective economic development, resulting in an impressive performance.
In 2023, Lishui City achieved the highest growth rates in both total collective economic income and operating income in the province for the first time. The total income reached 1.708 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 29.53%, while the operating income was 1.062 billion yuan, up by 32.57%. The proportion of strong collective economy villages with an operating income exceeding 500,000 yuan saw the highest growth rate in the province. Strong village companies generated a profit of 596 million yuan, an increase of 26.4%, simultaneously boosting farmers’ incomes by 296 million yuan and driving a 1.13 percentage point increase in the per capita disposable income of rural residents.
Quality agriculture highlights development foundation
Recently, the selection and promotion event of “Top Ten Best Honey” in Zhejiang Province was held. After intense competition, the “A Xian” brand Chinese bee honey from Jinyun County Xiandu Beekeeping Co., Ltd., a member enterprise of the “Lishui Mountain Farming” association, stood out for its low water content, high enzyme value, high maturity, pollution-free characteristics, and comprehensive “color, aroma, and taste”. It was awarded the honor of being one of Zhejiang Province’s “Top Ten Best Honey”.
“The recognition of our products by expert judges has brought us confidence in development,” said Chen Yuexian, General Manager of Xiandu Beekeeping. Benefiting from the endorsement of the “Lishui Mountain Farming” regional public brand, the company plans to further expand its “sweet” business, helping local beekeepers achieve prosperity.
In 2014, in order to help high-quality products nurtured by good ecology reach beyond the mountains, Lishui City launched “Lishui Shangeng”, the nation’s first regional public brand covering all areas, categories, and the entire industry chain at the prefecture level. By adopting standardized and regulated brand management models, establishing brand certification standards, and implementing the strictest pesticide and fertilizer entry standards, Lishui has transformed its ecological advantages into “golden mountain and silver mine” that benefit the people and enrich the city.
The development of Lishui’s quality agriculture has benefited from a comprehensive “combination punch” that includes germplasm enhancement, technological innovation, brand cultivation, and advanced processing. Yunhe Snow Pear, a specialty of Yunhe County in Lishui City with over 500 years of cultivation history, has not only doubled in planting area in recent years but also sees individual fruits priced at over a hundred yuan each.
“Snow pear has become the main agricultural product of the street, and strengthening the snow pear industry is the ‘golden magic weapon’ to promote farmers’ income increase,” said Qiu Zhenmin, manager of the Qiangcun Company in Yuanhe Street, Yunhe County. Focusing on expanding and improving the Snow Pear industry, Yuanhe Street saw a total planting area of 5,840 mu, a production of over 2,900 tons, and an output value of 58 million yuan in 2023.
As of now, 30 local specialties from Lishui have been listed among the province’s top 100 renowned specialties. In 2023, the total industrial chain value of six quality agricultural sectors in Lishui exceeded 60 billion yuan. Industries like tea and edible mushrooms have developed a new model of “producing nationwide, selling nationwide”, creating over 500,000 jobs.
In 2023, Lishui City issued the “Notice of the Lishui Municipal People’s Government on the Issuance of the Three-Year Action Plan for the Construction of the Quality Agriculture Full Industrial Chain in Lishui City”. This plan leverages the city’s natural resources, characterized by nine parts mountains, half part water, and half part fields. The initiative aims to expand space by utilizing mountainous areas and resources from forests, emphasizing the development of local specialties.
Over a three-year period, Lishui City will continue to promote the construction of the agricultural full industrial chain, basically achieving the goals of “becoming stronger, bigger, longer-lasting, more dynamic, and achieving common prosperity”. The initial achievements in building a nationally leading quality agriculture demonstration zone have been made.
The rapid development of quality agriculture has fostered robust forces for common prosperity. By adopting a diversified approach, the income growth of farmers in Lishui has ranked first in Zhejiang Province for 15 consecutive years. Additionally, the income gap between urban and rural areas has significantly narrowed over the past three years, leading the province in this regard as well.
Village-enterprise cooperation unlocks the secret to prosperity
The orange-yellow rammed earth walls, the Ouyue-style stilted buildings, and the streams surrounded by ancient trees... stepping into Xiananshan Village in Bihu Town, Liandu District, makes one feel as if they have entered a paradise straight out of Tao Yuanming’s poetry.
Founded during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Xiannanshan Village faced decline due to its single-industry structure. To seek better development, the village invited investment while preserving its entirety, attracting Lianzhong Group to develop the ancient village.
Through close “village-enterprise cooperation”, Xiannanshan Village’s collective economy has experienced rapid growth. The village now earns 250,000 yuan annually in rental income, and the increasing number of visitors has opened up new markets for local agricultural products.
In 2023, the total collective economic income of Xiannanshan Village reached 858,200 yuan, with an operating income of 657,800 yuan, marking the beginning of a “second spring” for the ancient village.
In recent years, Lishui City has fully relied on its land resources, special industries, and other advantages to introduce “fresh water” from social resources, explore and implement the “village-enterprise cooperation” model, develop and strengthen the village collective economy, and taken solid steps towards strengthening villages, enriching farmers, and revitalizing the countryside.
Recently, in Guzhu’ao Village, Shuqiao Township, Qingtian County, the household measurement work for the Shu-Hai Composite Photovoltaic Power Project has been progressing quickly and orderly.
The Shu-Hai Composite Photovoltaic Power Project is Qingtian County’s largest agrivoltaic power station. By partnering with Zhejiang Qingjie Energy Technology Company, Shuqiao Township facilitated the implementation of the 970-million-yuan agrivoltaic project, revitalizing over 3,000 mu of idle land. Once operational, the project is expected to directly increase the annual income of the local strong village company by 1.5 million yuan.
In addition to substantial financial returns, Shuqiao Township plans to fully utilize the spaces between the photovoltaic arrays to grow economic crops like oil tea and Chinese medicinal herbs, employing a “solar panels above, crops below” dual-use model. This approach aims to maximize land value, creating a win-win path for both economic development and ecological protection.
“The water is particularly clear, and diving in such green water and green mountains feels like opening a new world.” During the recent May Day holiday, the water sports park in Hongxingping Village, Hushan Township, Suichang County, began trial operations, attracting many tourists to visit.
How did this once small mountain village tap into the “tourism economy”? Leveraging its excellent reservoir ecosystem and unique natural tourism resources, Hongxingping Village actively explored a village collective economic income model guided by the government, collectively managed, market-operated, and involving village residents. They successfully brought in professional boutique hotel operators like “Shili Homestay” and “Miwo”, managing village collective properties through a “rent + dividends” model, increasing the village collective's annual income by over 300,000 yuan.
Today, Hongxingping Village has become a hub for boutique homestays in Suichang County. The thriving homestay economy has also invigorated rural revitalization efforts.
Strong villages and prosperous people paint a picture of happiness
Achieving common prosperity hinges on rural areas, focuses on farmers, and centers on industries.
In recent years, Lishui City, leveraging its mountainous terrain and inherent advantages, has continuously introduced a series of “strong village” policies. These policies, tailored to local conditions, have revitalized resources, planned and advanced rural projects, and vigorously developed unique industries. These efforts have significantly broadened, deepened, and refined the development of village-level collective economies.
At the beginning of summer, the Yangmei (bayberry) growing base in Yangkeng Village, Zijin Street, Liandu District, stands out with its plump and glossy bayberries.
Yangkeng Village’s bayberry cultivation, spanning 1,500 mu, serves as the primary industry for the village’s collective economy. The village has introduced smart facilities and equipment, such as intelligent temperature control, smart lighting, and integrated water and fertilizer systems. Additionally, they have established the largest mountain bayberry smart greenhouse in Liandu District.
Not only that, to address the development challenges of Yangkeng Village’s industry, Zijin Street has collaborated with the strong village company, the village collective, professional cooperatives, and farmers. The professional cooperatives and farmers handle cultivation, while the strong village company manages sales. The profits are used for village construction, dividends for villagers, and subsidies for families in need, ensuring collective prosperity.
“In the past, the waxberries I grew myself could only be sold for six or seven yuan per jin (half a kilogram). Now, the greenhouse black charcoal waxberries sell for 80 yuan per jin, more than ten times the past price,” said Que Conglin, a waxberry farmer.
Nie Weiqing, general manager of the Zijin Street Strong Village Company, mentioned that they plan to further develop derivative products like bayberry wine and dried bayberries. They will continue to deepen food processing and expand the industrial chain.
The strong village company model is a pioneering initiative in Lishui City within the province. Following the principle of “clear property rights, village-based benefits”, the city has established nine county-level strong village companies and 173 township strong village companies through various forms such as sole proprietorships, holding shares, participating shares, and multi-village collaborations, achieving full coverage of villages and communities.
Earlier this year, Wu Liang, the head of Baizhangrenjia Family Farm in Yushang Township, Qingyuan County, was overjoyed when he received the purchase payment for sweet orange pomelo from the township’s strong village company.
Wu Liang’s happiness stemmed from Yushang Township in Qingyuan County seizing the opportunity to collaborate with the Provincial Department of Justice. They facilitated the entry of products such as sweet oranges, mushrooms, and rice into the “Government Procurement Cloud” platform, helping farmers establish a bridge between supply and demand with paired units.
Since last year, Lishui City has taken advantage of the new consumption policies to actively promote the “entering government institutions”, “entering enterprises” and “entering universities” series of events for high-quality thinning products. Through practical cooperation between government, schools, villages, and enterprises, they have achieved a total sales revenue of 104 million yuan, increasing income by over 30 million yuan.
On May 28, 2024, the Zhejiang Agricultural and Commercial Interconnection Conference and the Lishui City Exhibition and Sales Event for High-Quality Thinning Agricultural Products were held in Lishui City. During the event, dozens of high-quality thinning agricultural products received widespread praise from domestic and foreign merchants.
Crossing mountains and seas, quality poverty alleviation agricultural products such as Liandu’s tree-grown mushrooms, Jinyun’s Dayuan steamed bread, Qingyuan’s black glutinous rice, Suichang’s long zongzi (rice dumplings), and Qingtian’s sugar cakes have emerged from the mountains and spread across the country, achieving a “synchronized resonance” of village collective income growth and farmers’ prosperity.