North China's Shanxi province has improved comprehensive agricultural production capacity, farmers' incomes and living standards over the past 10 years. 

During the period, the cumulative investment in agriculture, rural affairs and farmers by financial departments at the provincial level and above totaled 73 billion yuan ($10.26 billion).

The province's annual grain output increased from 13.09 million metric tons in 2012 to 14.21 million tons in 2021, its national ranking in terms of the output of meat, eggs, milk and vegetables has risen greatly, and the variety of fruits has grown from more than 500 varieties in seven categories to more than 800 varieties in 15 categories, with fresh and dried fruit sold to 75 countries and regions.

The total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishing in Shanxi increased from 130.4 billion yuan in 2012 to 213.4 billion yuan in 2021, an increase of 63.6 percent, the added value of the primary industry increased from 64.2 billion yuan to 128.69 billion yuan, and farmers' incomes grew from 7,064 yuan to 15,308 yuan, doubling in 10 years.

To improve rural areas, Shanxi has continuously promoted the modernization of production facilities, rural living facilities, and the equalization of basic public services. 

The province has built and reconstructed 42,800 kilometers of rural roads, and all villages have access to buses and coaches. The number of cars and air conditioners per 100 rural households has increased by a factor of 2.2 and 1.9, respectively, indicating that the living standards of rural residents have improved.

The coverage rates of rural domestic garbage collection, transportation and disposal, sewage treatment, and sanitary toilets have been greatly improved.

The province has solved drinking water difficulties for 1.82 million poor people, renovated 333,700 dangerous houses in rural areas, enhanced operation conditions of 7,835 primary and secondary schools, built or reconstructed 13,045 village clinics, and built 1,122 centralized resettlement areas for people relocated due to poverty in the past decade. 

Rural industries have also grown rapidly. The contribution rate of agricultural science and technology exceeded 61 percent in 2021, up 8 percentage points over 2012.

Digital agriculture, rural e-commerce, rural tourism, and leisure agriculture have boomed in rural areas. Last year, the province's leisure agriculture revenue reached 8.13 billion yuan, creating jobs for 424,000 rural residents.

The per capita disposable income of rural residents in poor areas increased from 4,875 yuan in 2013 to 10,352 yuan in 2020, an average annual growth rate of 11.4 percent. All 3.29 million poor people have been lifted out of poverty, and all 7,993 poor villages have eliminated absolute poverty.

The photovoltaic industry has helped rural collective economy increase by 204,700 yuan annually on average, and more than 90 special labor service brands have been developed, which has helped 918,000 laborers find employment.