A village in Inner Mongolia: the road out of poverty

The village of Liang Zhong Chang in Inner Mongolia is being held up by Chinese authorities as to how its poverty eradication program is progressing toward its ultimate goal of pulling everyone above the poverty line by 2020.

Villagers of Liang Zhong Chang Village put on a performance they've composed and directed in the village's culture square. [Photo: China Plus/Hou Yiguang]

As the first and so far only village to be lifted out of poverty in its township, the village has been exploring ways of liberating its farmers from the land.

"There are 84 households and over 300 people in our village. Our farmland is over 2,700 mu, or 450 acres. Now all the farmland has joined the Planting Cooperative. Some are working in the cooperative; some are working in the village's two small enterprises. Now our village has three cooperatives, and all the laborers are working," explained Li Kunpeng, the director of the village committee.

A photo showing Cooperative workers unload feedstuff. [Photo: China Plus/Hou Yiguang]

The three cooperatives mentioned are involved in planting, cultivation and farm machinery. According to Li, all of them are playing a vital role in eliminating poverty. Based on land transferal, the Planting Cooperative focuses on developing key crops, such as potatoes.

The Cultivation Cooperative is focused on breeding mutton sheep and dairy cattle. The Farm Machinery Cooperative not only provides a solution to their own harvesting needs but also offers services outside the village. In addition to the three cooperatives, the village also brought in two small enterprises to help farmers work nearby.

A photo showing dairy cattle in the Cultivation Cooperative. [Photo: China Plus/Hou Yiguang]

Villagers say they are satisfied with the changes brought about by collective production. Many farmers are enjoying working for enterprises for the first time.

"In the past, besides working on my own farmland, I had to contract some other farmland to have more income, which is 30,000 yuan, or 4,400 US dollars, when the weather allows. After joining the Planting Cooperative, the land alone brings me over 10,000 yuan each year. I hope the cooperative lasts forever," said Zhang Lichen, who used to live in poverty.

A photo showing planting Cooperative workers plant Beta vulgaris. [Photo: China Plus/Hou Yiguang]

In addition to the income from the farmland, Zhang has a fixed income of over 40, 000 yuan annually from working in the grain depot of the village. Economic development in the village has brought many benefits.

"Everyone has to pay 180 yuan annually for rural medical insurance. Starting from this year, the village is giving a subsidy of 100 yuan per person. Individuals only need to pay 80 yuan," said Pang Wenxue, the head of Liang Zhong Chang village.

The village not only offers an allowance for its residents' medical insurance but also gives a subsidy for pension insurance. The village's annual average income has now reached 12,000 yuan, about 1,700 US dollars per person.

Liang Zhong Chang Village is a microcosm of China's efforts to reduce poverty. Such success is being seen across the country. By 2015, the number of people in China living in poverty dropped to 56 million. China is aiming to rid itself of poverty by 2020.