Xifeng uses increased funding to advance poverty alleviation goals

Xifeng county in Southwest China's Guizhou province has adopted a series of measures to reduce poverty and ensure that poverty alleviation work achieves tangible results, according to local officials.

Authorities said that a total of 49.8 million yuan ($7.2 million) has been invested in special fiscal funds for poverty alleviation in Xifeng, an increase of 11.78 million yuan over the same period last year – a growth rate of 31 percent. The county has also invested 4.84 million yuan of its own money in combating poverty, an increase of 440,000 yuan over 2019, with a year-on-year growth rate of 10 percent.

Xifeng's poverty alleviation funds will be mainly invested in the development of the agricultural industry while ensuring underprivileged people's livelihoods and drinking water security.

According to officials, a total of 37.19 million yuan was allocated for agricultural development projects, accounting for 74.68 percent of this year's special funds.

Meanwhile, 8.39 million yuan was allocated for small infrastructure projects in rural areas, accounting for 16.85 percent of the total, and 4.08 million yuan was awarded for a social security project to help poor people, accounting for 8.2 percent.

A total of 137,000 yuan was earmarked for other projects, including training and subsidies on small-loan interest payments for poor households, accounting for 0.27 percent.

Che Weiwei contributed to this story.