Guangxi to lift 1 million people out of poverty

Comprehensive supporting policies needed to promote relocation

In the next few years, as more farmers move into resettlement communities, the key to lifting them out of poverty is to ensure continued employment. Experts and officials believe to realize the goal of poverty alleviation there must be further supporting policies for resettled farmers to self- develop.

In Tianyang and Donglan areas so far, although many farmers have been resettled and moved into new homes, many still return to their old homes in mountainous areas on a daily basis to farm their land in order to maintain a steady income. Right now there’re not enough employment opportunities nearby resettlement communities, and more supporting industries are needed.

Wang Jiahua, director of Rural Development Institute of Renmin University believes that whether resettled residents can lead a better life is key to the success of poverty alleviation through relocation. Ecological migration takes place in poor areas, where local industries are underdeveloped and infrastructures are backward. It’s difficult for the people to find employment or become entrepreneurs locally. It’s unrealistic to introduce large-scale high-tech enterprises to those regions. Wang said although becoming migrant workers may solve some of the current issues, it’s not going to last. He said such places should concentrate efforts on developing local characteristic agricultural industries, and gain a market share with their unique competitiveness.