How to profit from kiwifruits？

Positive Changes

This process has also taken place in Shibadong Village in central China's Hunan Province. This is a Miao minority village, which was formerly classified as "poor". Shibadong in Chinese means 18 caves, and there are 18 natural karst caves in the village.

Dr. Zhong talks to Shibadong villagers about the science of growing kiwi fruits. [cas.cn]

According to the head of the village, Gong Haihua, the village's 939 registered residents each own 500 square meters of arable land and earn an annual average income of 1,680 yuan (U.S. $263), far below the official national poverty line of 3,000 yuan (U.S. $435). Scarcity of arable land has been the biggest obstacle to local villagers hoping to improve their lives.

Inspired by Chinese president Xi Jinping's idea of targeted poverty alleviation, announced during his inspection tour there in November 2013, the village committee started supporting industries such as planting kiwifruits.

In cooperation with rural cooperatives and a scientific research team led by Dr. Zhong, the village arranged for around 67 hectares of land elsewhere to be planted with kiwis. This attracted further investment from companies focusing on the newly-founded kiwifruit business. All the villagers can enjoy a dividend by transferring their rural land-use right to local cooperatives.

A company from Sichuan Province active in the newly-developing kiwifruit business has obtained a permit to undertake scientific research into dried kiwi fruit. [cas.cn]

The kiwi base was expanded last year and helped villagers in other townships to escape from poverty, said Shi Jintong, a township official stationed in Shibadong village.

"In 2019, poor families will receive a further payment proportionate to their shareholding in the cooperative, which carries the responsibility for managing profits and losses. It is believed that their monthly income could reach as much as 5,000 yuan (U.S. $725) as kiwis will be in full bloom by then," predicted Shi.