Xifeng's vegetable supply base produces more job opportunities

Workers at a vegetable supply base take care of plants in Shidong town, Xifeng county. [Photo/xifeng.gov.cn]

He Shuhua, a resident of Shidong town in Guiyang's Xifeng county, has been kept busy ever since he opened a grocery store across the street from a high-standard vegetable supply base.

"My customers are usually the local villagers employed at the base. My monthly income can reach some 1,000 yuan ($150)," said He, referring to the hired workers who buy water, cigarettes and other necessities from the store.

He is one of the lucky villagers who works close to home. As one part of Guiyang's high-standard vegetable supply base project, Xifeng's supply base covers an area of 4427.24 mu (295.15 hectares), and involves 6,456 rural residents of 10 villages in Shidong town.

The base started operation on March 27, 2019,  and produces 26,000 metric tons of quality vegetables annually.

"During the first half year, we mainly grow peppers and tomatoes, and then we grow cabbages and mushrooms in the second half," said Gao Weimeng, a director at the base in charge of vegetable production.

But more importantly, the operation of the base has brought more job opportunities and has absorbed the surplus rural labor force. According to Gao, the base has hired more than 1,000 locals in the town, and its payroll expenses in 2020 reached 13 million yuan.

In addition, villagers can also rent out their land to the base to get an annual land bonus of at least 1,000 yuan per mu.