On Febuary 25, 2021, Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, annouced that China has secured a complete victory in her fight against poverty, and absolute poverty has been eradicated in the world’s most populous country, home to over1.4 billion people
Did you know how many ethnic minority groups there are in China? The answer is 55. In the two counties of Malipo and Jinping in China’s Yunnan Province, which has the largerst number of ethnic minority groups among provinces of China, people of ethnic minority groups have managed to alleviate poverty through establishing learning resource centers and community engagement in cooperative societies that use locally available resources to generate income. Cash crop farming and cultural tourism that are significant revenue sources with subsidies from the Chinese government on sustainable poverty alleviation projects.
Just like Ugandan farmers who were affected by the bush war period of 1981 – 1986, these farmers were also affected by a Chinese war against an invading neighbour country in 1979. Since then, however, the Chinese government is making strides and the local communities are pushing towards empowering and lifting themselves out of poverty.
China’s Achievement in Poverty Alleviation
The approach involves using cooperative initiatives, benefiting 222,000 and 371,700 people of minority groups in Malipo and Jinping couties respectively.
As the paired poverty alleviation unit to Malipo and Jinping couties, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs solicits funds from Chinese citizens and other related enterprises to a tune of 467 million Yuan (approximately 72.4 million USD) to support poverty alleviation projects including food, clothing, education, health, overall village improvement, industries and training.
Currently Yunnan is among the exemplary provinces in the move towards China’s poverty eradication.
Arrival in Malipo and Jinping couties, Yunnan Province
From the arrival in Yunnan, you are welcomed by the impressive farm fields, mountainous tops in green, which are indeed a delight just like back home in the beauty of Kisoro or Mbale.
As one approaches to Malipo and Jinping couties, along the way, mountains appear endlessly in the distance, as clouds and mist lingers in the far, The place is close to the land port between China and southeastern countries.
It is certainly worthwhile to spend the days exploring the beautiful natural scenery. The province is well established in terms of sustainable infrastructure, with good roads, electricity, and water.
The place is about 390,000 square kilometers with a population of about 48 million, and is famous for its large number of people of ethnic minorities, with over 25 ethnic minority groups, living in their small compact communities, such as the Ni, Bai, Hani, Dai, Lisu, Naxi, Yao, Jingbo, Buyi, Shui and Dulong. Yunnan is known for its ethnically diversity just like Uganda’s various tribes.
As a landlocked place in the remoteness of southwest China, Malipo and Jinping couties found themsevles in a rock and a hard place in the provision of food and other social amenities. However they are richly endowed with natural resources and the friendly nature of the people is also similar to that of Ugandan people, as you will observe it in their hospitality.
Visiting Jinshuihe Township Resettlement Site of Jinping County
Walking into the small town, you will be mesmerized by the new buildings that are hidden among the green mountains, neat and clean roads, and the expanding public service facilities.
Gone are dirt roads that were muddy when it rained. Solar photovoltaic street lights are now installed on both sides of the road.
The well-organized pattern makes the place shine. The resettlement site for Jinshuihe Town is home to 439 families, who bid farewell to the geologically hazardous area, more than 70 kilometers away, and moved to their new houses at the end of 2019.
During the relocation process, a family of two members is given a two-roomed modern and furnished house. Families with three members are given a bigger one but the number of rooms in one house does not exceed more than four rooms. According to the policy made by the county, each individual is entitled to 25 square meters for small family and if the family is bigger and need more rooms, they will get a space of 18 square meters per individual.
Qian Wenzheng's family is one of them. In the past, they lived in an earth-walled house among the mountains for more than 40 years. Transportation was difficult, taking three to four hours to reach the nearest market. What's more serious was that they were prone to geological dangers such as landslides, due to the mountainous nature of their old home. Thanks to the resettlement policy, he led his family into a modern apartment of more than 70 square meters in the small town, at the end of 2019.
Since moving here, Qian Wenzheng has never returned to his hometown. He says that he likes the current living environment very much. "It is so much better than before." His grandson can also receive education more conveniently. After arriving in the town, the local village committee contacted him for a job as a security guard, with a monthly salary of 1,500 Yuan (approximately 232 USD). He also helped his wife find a job to work as well.
In picture; 55 year old Qian Wenzheng with his family
According to the village party secretary Bai Wenming, the town has a labor force of more than 1,330 people, and has helped 690 people find jobs. The surplus labor force actively participated in the reopening of border trade at Jinshuihe Port, which plays a crucial role of transportation in the area.
Zhou Yujiang, who is the head of the poverty alleviation team says that there is a different criterion to characterize families that needs support, including the need for a decent shelter. The houses are grouped into 4 groups from A to D classes. Class D is the worst type of house that needs to be demolished and its occupants are undoubtedly relocated to a new house. Class C houses can be renovated or sometimes demolished to prevent any natural hazard that might affect its occupants.
In picture, Zhou Yujiang, Head of Poverty alleviation team
Coming from Uganda, a country with lot of similarities to China’s Yunnan Province in many aspects of its geography, topography, vegetation and even natural disasters, I find Yunnan’s successful relocation of people from risky zones is an example for Uganda, where the program of relocating people from risky zones has brought up hot debates.
A Visit to Jinshuihe Town Health Center
Through funding channeled by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the health center is designed to serve the medical needs of the local people, especially in epidemic prevention and control.
The center is equipped with medical technology, such as a color Doppler ultrasound room, a laboratory, an epidemic monitoring room, a DR (digital X-ray photography system), an equipment for the heart and brain, as well as a blood vessel rescue station.
The DR room gives full play to its powerful and effective functions. X-ray examinations help to confirm suspected cases. The center also provides a strong guarantee for the villagers during the COVID-19 pandemic period to go out to work. Locals who need to go out to work can take the health inspection and certificate to prove their physical condition.
Cultural Exhibition
The Yunnan cuisine is a delight to behold and a true treat to the taste. The soups are mostly spicy and colorful, and the food mainly rice, potatoes and noodles is offered with the local liquor and accompanied with the melodious traditional dance and music.
Manpeng Village, Jinshuihe Town
The dance performances make you feel the enthusiasm of the local people. During the display of hand embroidery, a piece of clothing that has been passed down to three generations with a history of more than a hundred years surprised everyone. The owner of the clothing said that he would pass it on to his children and grandchildren.
Children are taught by the elders about their traditional language, songs, dance, poetry, and cultural heritage, and it is common to see the elderly interacting with crowds of children.
It is very interesting to see the various colors on the locals’ costumes and learn the special meanings they have. The dark colors on the clothes such as green represent men, while bright colors such as pink represent women. The exquisite clothing is handmade, and local residents only wear them on major festivals such as the Spring Festival, which is the biggest Chinese traditional New Year celebration that occurs in January or February.
Developmental Strides through Farming
Many of the locals of Yunnan live their day to day lives not different from that of everyday Ugandans, the largest reason being that they are farmers, just like many Ugandan farmers who are also organized in cooperatives. Through groups of people coming together to work, they have been able to empower and up lift themselves out of poverty.
Wild Dendrobium Base
The Wild Dendrobium Planting Base in Xiajinchang Township is a site to behold. The whole mountain is covered with a kind of small but extremely valuable Chinese herbal medicine - dendrobium. Mr. Guo Xibing, who is in charge of the planting base, and also the chairman of the Yunling Wild Chinese Medicinal Plants Professional Cooperative, says that dendrobium can improve human immunity, reduce risks of high blood pressure, blood sugar, other cardio-related diseases and is a good medicine for longevity. Consequently, the herb attracts huge revenue when it is finally processed.
Guo Xibing, Chairman of Yunling Wild Chinese Herbal Medicine Planting Professional Cooperative
Dendrobium flowers are especially precious, and can sell for tens of thousands of yuan per pound. In 2019, the cooperative's annual output value of Chinese medicinal materials such as wild dendrobium and Zhonglou (another herb) was 3 million Yuan (approximately 46.5 million USD), which drove more than 110 rural households in the surrounding area, and the average household income increased by more than 2,000 Yuan (approximately 310 USD), helping their poverty reduction efforts
The taste of the herb is similar and delicious to the floral bittersweet taste of Chinese green tea, which has made it attractive to the consumers of the product who find it easy to consume, and yet at the same time it is fighting diseases.
The Jiaming Tea Planting Cooperative
It is one of the industrial support projects designated by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for poverty alleviation in Malipo County. The tea planting area reaches more than 2,600 acres, including more than 20,000 ancient tea trees, with an annual average tea output of 13.75 tons.
One of the cooperative farmers, Ms. Xu Yuyan says the project has enabled her and fellow farmers to become self-reliant and the entire community productive. From the project, the coummunity is able to generate about 6 million Yuan (approximately 930,000 USD) per year. 235 poor households have increased their income due to tea farming.
Tea is the life style of the farmers, from which they are able to generate income. They are happy to reap more benefits, as the product is marketed online. Perhaps a tip for Ugandan farmers to adopt is making more use of the internet to market to a wider customers.
China Sets a Practical Example for African Countries
Although China is also still on its journey to further development, it has managed to achieve enormous economic development over the past 40 plus years, which progress has also set a practical example for many African countries.
China continues to invest heavily in agricultural development and instilling a culture of promoting its brands for globally competitiveness.
The competitive advantage for most African nations lies in agriculture and mining. Africa has fertile soils, abundant water resources, and a favorable climate for agriculture and abundant mineral wealth.
Currently most African nations are exporting unprocessed agricultural produce and minerals. The processing and value-addition is being done in other countries, therefore providing jobs and higher profits in those countries, and in many cases the finished products are being sold back to the same African countries at higher prices.
Africa can make agriculture as the key driver of its economy by being involved in the entire value chain. This would mean that instead of exporting just cotton, you export fabric. Instead of just timber, you export furniture and fittings. Instead of just cocoa, you export coffee or chocolate. This will create jobs for Africa, especially the youth of Africa, and more importantly poverty will be reduced.
Some will argue that African nations do not have the capital, skills and technology. Neither did China initially, but by focusing their scarce resources on key areas, and transferring the needed skills and technology from those who had them, they did it. There is no reason why Africa cannot do the same.
There is nothing that China has done that African countries cannot do or even surpass. African countries can draw inspiration from China but must not aim to be China. We are Africans, we can learn lessons from others and more importantly still be our unique selves.
A Unique Way of Rewarding Community Service
The Benevolence Supermarket of the village attracts everyone's attention. Daily necessities such as washing soap are placed on supermarket shelves, but unlike ordinary supermarkets, the bottom of each item is not the price but a score. For example, the rice cooker corresponds to 125 points and the electric kettle is 25 points. It turned out that this mechanism was introduced to encourage villagers to actively participate in poverty alleviation, improvement of the environment, and changing customs. The village committee will conduct random household inspections and award points, which then the locals can use to buy goods at the Benevolence Supermarket. For example, for villagers who maintain clean hygiene, one point will be awarded for each random inspection.
Goodbye Yunnan
The visit is a rare experience, giving a deeper understanding of China’s poverty alleviation experience and achievements. Many people at the first thought of China think about its highly industrialized cities lined with the towering skyscrapers, fast trains and luxury cars as well as the hustle and bustle of people going about their lives.
Experiencing another picture of China, much more familiar with farming communities, similar to many African countries, tells the story of China’s poverty alleviation and enhances mutual understanding and friendship of a journey between China and Africa.
The writer is a student of Journalism and Communication at the Communication University of China.
