A farmer in Heyun village, Yicheng county, holds a tray of harvested strawberries. [Photo by Hu Bo for China Daily]

Green industries

Yicheng county has adopted an approach to poverty alleviation and rural revitalization similar to that of Xiaoyi city.

In the county's Beizhang village, such fruits as apple, cherry and plum are the major cash crops that residents use to increase their incomes.

According to Jia Hailu, Party secretary of Beizhang, the planting area of such crops has surpassed 150 hectares, a strong boost to the local economy.

"As income increases in the village, we are able to build more roads and other public facilities," Jia said. He added that there will be more projects to boost local industries and improve local facilities like roads, electricity, telecommunications and logistics.

"As the CPC Central Committee continues to give priority to rural development, I believe the rural areas in Yicheng will have a better living environment and better growth potential," said Wang Yuan, Party secretary of Yicheng county.

"We have felt the great changes happening in the countryside over the past few years. I'm sure people will find rural Yicheng a better place to live in in the years to come."