Official Brings Prosperity to Mountainous Ethnic Village

Yu Liufen [Women of China]

National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter award winner Yu Liufen has dedicated herself to increasing the prosperity of locals in her village for over 17 years.

Yu, 49, is Party Secretary of Yanbo Village in southwest China's Guizhou province. She took on the job in 2001 when villagers earned an average annual income of only 800 yuan (U.S.$ 97) each, and one third of them lived below the poverty line.

Located in a remote mountainous area, Yanbo was a settlement for people belonging to the Yi ethnic group.

She made road construction a priority to help locals shake off their everyday struggles. With no funds to start with, she raised money from villagers, with herself contributing all her savings of 40,000 yuan (U.S.$4,830) to cover the cost.

After a decade's efforts, 11 new roads were built, stretching 28.5 kilometers, and 13 kilometers of dirt roads were upgraded.

Improved public transport facilitated transit and trade with neighboring regions. The abundant natural resource of forests in Yanbo were utilized and transported to nearby wood factories, which generated 170,000 yuan (U.S.$ 20,530) for the village's annual income in 2002.

With tangible profits produced, Yu moved further ahead. She started multiple businesses in Yanbo including a brickyard, a livestock farm and a winery, which has created over 300 jobs and 3 million yuan (U.S $ 362,300) for all the villagers.

In 2015, the collective assets of Yanbo totaled around 60 million yuan (U.S. 8.7 million), with per capita annual income reaching 15,500 yuan (U.S.$ 2,488).

Years of experience on poverty alleviation enlightened Yu on the importance of talent and technologies to grow Yanbo's economy.

Yu invited several agriculture experts to provide training programs for local farmers. She also proposed to introduce more specialists and intellectuals into Yanbo by  offering high salaries.

With her endeavor, over 50 agricultural talents at an average age of 28, have contributed to the village's economic and social development.

Apart from building up people's wealth, Yu also sought to improve rural civilization and enrich their cultural life.

She managed to organize various lectures on basic legal knowledge and virtues. Moreover, to carry on and promote minority culture of Yi ethnic group, dance and singing competitions were held in the village.

"Yanbo would not have today's achievements and we could not live a happy life without her leadership", a villager spoke of Yu, full of admiration and gratitude.

Yu Liufen checks the quality of spirits produced in the village winery. [Women of China]

Yu Liufen communicates with villagers. [Women of China]

(Women of China)