Your current location:HOME >style >Former Teacher Helps Farmers Get Keen on Quinoa 正文
TIME:2024-05-08 20:59:26 Source: Internet compilationEdit:style
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom
Wu Xiarui works in a field in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [China Daily] |
Seven years ago, Wu Xiarui quit her job as a college teacher to return to her hometown in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to promote quinoa planting.
Wu has a PhD in agricultural water and soil engineering. In 2015, she discovered that quinoa — dubbed the "gold" of the plant world — is hardy, resistant to drought and salt, and of great nutritional value. That revelation prompted her to try planting it, despite strong opposition from her family.
"I really want to see crops flourishing and villagers' wallets expanding in my hometown," Wu said.
She started a business and began her long journey of planting and promoting quinoa, traveling all over the region to conduct soil sampling and testing to find suitable land for growing. She sowed and weeded with other farmers without mechanical equipment.
Wu initially struggled. The first year's output did not meet her expectations, and the following year saw a record rainstorm, which flooded all her quinoa crops.
By that time, the project was also running low on funds. Wu realized that being good at studies did not necessarily translate into being good at farming.
Luckily, another door opened for her.
In 2016, she won the gold medal in the "Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition" in Ningxia and was recommended to star in China Central Television's program We Are the Hero. These achievements gave her the opportunity to promote her hometown as well as her quinoa research results. Offers of cooperation poured in from around the country.
Today, Wu and her team have planted 191 hectares of quinoa in Ningxia, benefiting more than 1,000 farmers. Each household can earn up to 30,000 yuan ($4,421) annually, which is three to five times more than they would get by planting wheat or corn.
Wu and her team have also promoted quinoa elsewhere, including the Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions.
After seeing the grateful response of local farmers, Wu is now more determined than ever to pursue her quinoa planting business.
"Planting quinoa has not only improved the condition of the soil and optimized the environment, but has also helped many people learn more about Ningxia," she said.
(Source: China Daily)
32.3KPlease understand that womenofchina.cn,a non-profit, information-communication website, cannot reach every writer before using articles and images. For copyright issues, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]. The articles published and opinions expressed on this website represent the opinions of writers and are not necessarily shared by womenofchina.cn.
Met Gala 2024: Cynthia Erivo cut a unique figure in a co2024-05-08 20:29
Virginia fathers narrowly avoid being crushed while sitting by backyard fire pit2024-05-08 20:23
Soldiers who lost limbs in Gaza fighting are finding healing on Israel's amputee soccer team2024-05-08 19:54
India election 2024: Hindu nationalism is mainstream thanks to 10 years of PM Modi2024-05-08 19:37
I'm an ER doctor2024-05-08 19:25
AP Week in Pictures: Global2024-05-08 19:22
Tommy Fury heads out in his £180,000 Mercedes G Wagon for a haircut after his fiancé Molly2024-05-08 19:08
Staff and shoppers return to 'somber' Sydney shopping mall 6 days after mass stabbings2024-05-08 18:58
Prince Harry celebrates Invictus Games in London but won't see his father, King Charles III2024-05-08 18:30
Rosie Huntington2024-05-08 18:22
BRICS summit expected to promote S. Africa's tourism sector2024-05-08 20:51
Soldiers who lost limbs in Gaza fighting are finding healing on Israel's amputee soccer team2024-05-08 20:46
UK's Princess of Wales says she is under cancer treatment2024-05-08 20:38
ALISON BOSHOFF: Robert Downey Jr's got his Oscar2024-05-08 20:16
Lizzo has all eyes on her in puzzling 'vase dress' with bowl2024-05-08 20:12
Tommy Fury heads out in his £180,000 Mercedes G Wagon for a haircut after his fiancé Molly2024-05-08 20:07
Olympic sports bodies criticize track and field's move to pay $50,000 for Paris gold medalists2024-05-08 19:12
Argentina launches bid to join forces with NATO: Chainsaw2024-05-08 19:10
Boy Scouts of America changing name to more inclusive Scouting America after years of woes2024-05-08 18:52
Olympic sports bodies criticize track and field's move to pay $50,000 for Paris gold medalists2024-05-08 18:36