Woman Agronomist Dedicated to Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation

Aerial photo shows a modern agricultural technology demonstration zone in Butuo County, Jiangyou City, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on July 18. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

Agronomist Xiong Ying began to offer pairing-up assistance to a county's poverty alleviation work in August, 2018, in Jiangyou City, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Xiong with the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Jiangyou City was transferred to a modern agricultural technology demonstration zone in Butuo County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture of the province, helping local farmers develop agriculture and increase income.  

To get ready for the planting season, Xiong arrived in Butuo two months in advance to implement the experiment and promote new tree varieties and fruit-growing techniques.

Following her investigation of the soil and climate conditions, she started trial planting of peach, plum and apricot trees in an eco-friendly way.

However, the work is never easy. Xiong met plenty of difficulties such as plant diseases and insect pests.

Given her continuous efforts, she finally led villagers to plant peach, plum, apricot and blueberries successfully, teaching them standardized fruit-tree cultivation and management skills and making them see the benefits of modern agriculture and facility agriculture.

Xiong posted short videos on her official Douyin account, introducing fruit tree cultivation and related management skills as well as the local natural scenery. She hoped that more people will pay attention to the outcome of the poverty relief work of the county. Her followers have grown from 400 two years ago to over 6,600.

Xiong Ying (R) instructs the local villagers of Yi Ethnic Group to thin and cover peach fruits while recording a video in the modern agricultural technology demonstration zone in Butuo County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 18. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

Xiong Ying (2nd, R) and a village-stationed official (1st, L) instruct local villagers of the Yi Ethnic Group on pruning fruit trees in Shizui Village, Butuo County, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on July 18. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

Xiong Ying records video clips of pruning and other field management steps in the modern agricultural technology demonstration zone in Butuo County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 18. [Xinhua/Xu Bingjie]

Xiong Ying (C) instructs the local villagers of Yi Ethnic Group on fruit thinning in the modern agricultural technology demonstration zone in Butuo County in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, on May 18. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

A photo taken on July 18 shows the blueberries in the modern agricultural technology demonstration zone. [Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing]

(Source: Xinhua/Translated and edited by Women of China)