Former Teacher Helps Farmers Get Keen on Quinoa
Time:2024-05-21 11:03:29 Source:opinionsViews(143)
- Home
- News
- People
- In-depth
- ACWF
Former Teacher Helps Farmers Get Keen on Quinoa
ByHu Dongmei and Zhao Ruinan August 19, 2022Wu 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.
Comments
Magazines
Projects
- 2023 Women Science and Technology Innovation Pioneer...
Photos
- People Enjoy Blooming Tulips in Jinan, East...
- Flowers Bloom Across China in Spring
Special Coverage
Previous:Six killed in a 'foiled coup' in Congo, the army says
Next:Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
You may also like
- A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
- New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals game rained out, to be made up Aug. 5
- Travis Kelce called out for being 'corny' over reaction to romance with Taylor Swift by Jana Kramer
- Red Sox activate pitcher Pivetta, infielder Gonzalez from injured list before facing Braves
- Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk
- AB InBev reports higher
- One Extraordinary Photo: AP photographer’s Pulitzer Prize
- Iowa facility that mistreated residents with intellectual disabilities nears closure
- Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated