How can a single bamboo drive 36600 people out of poverty? "Hometown of Qiongzhu in China" showcases the achievements of Shanghai Yunnan cooperation
On September 16th, the 2023 Daguan Qiongzhu Industry Promotion Conference and Cultural and Creative Excellent Products Exhibition, jointly organized by the People's Government of Daguan County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province and the People's Government of Qibao Town, Minhang District, Shanghai, was held at the Baolong Art Museum in Shanghai. The event features new bamboo materials, bamboo food and medicine, bamboo household products, bamboo handicrafts, and bamboo tourism. It is reported that from 2021 to 2023, Shanghai's construction assistance funds have invested a total of 65 million yuan in the bamboo industry and implemented 10 projects; Nowadays, the price of Qiongzhu bamboo shoots per kilogram has risen from 5 yuan a few years ago to 14 yuan. Last year, the comprehensive output value of the bamboo industry in Daguan County reached 1.48 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 54%, driving 36600 people to steadily lift themselves out of poverty.
It is understood that Daguan County is located in the Wumeng Mountains in the northeast of Yunnan Province, in the transition zone from Sichuan Basin to the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The unique microclimate has bred Qiongzhu, a unique resource, and is known as the "hometown of Qiongzhu in China". In 2022, the county has 1018300 acres of bamboo forests, accounting for over 70% of the world's bamboo area. Making good use of and developing precious bamboo resources, expanding and strengthening the bamboo industry, is of great significance for driving farmers to increase their income and achieving rural revitalization as soon as possible. Since the cooperation between Shanghai and Yunnan, Shanghai aid officials have focused on the "one county, one industry" bamboo industry, continuously improving supporting facilities for industrial development, promoting products to enter the Shanghai market, increasing product awareness, and extending the industrial chain.
In the past three years, Shanghai has invested funds and implemented 10 assistance projects around the Qiongzhu industry, covering Qiongzhu planting, bamboo picking road construction, processing plant construction, Qiongzhu museum construction, etc., enabling the Qiongzhu industry to embark on a path of deep processing and development, achieving maximum product and cultural value. Nowadays, the annual production of Qiongzhu bamboo shoots has increased from 18000 tons in 2018 to 31700 tons, and the price per kilogram has increased from 5 yuan to 14 yuan. The annual production of bamboo has increased from 40 million to 250 million. In 2022, the bamboo industry in Daguan County achieved a comprehensive output value of 1.48 billion yuan, an increase of 54% compared to 2021, benefiting 173000 people and driving 36600 people to stabilize poverty alleviation.
From seed source protection to planting management and full bamboo utilization, the cooperation between Shanghai and Yunnan continues to deepen. It is reported that as a leading local enterprise, Yunnan Xizhi Bamboo Culture and Technology Co., Ltd. is a professional enterprise engaged in the research and development, design, production, and sales of Qiongzhu furniture and handicrafts. In recent years, with the relay assistance from Zhongshan in Guangdong and Minhang in Shanghai, this enterprise has rapidly developed and grown. Last year, it officially settled in the Shanghai Yunnan Cooperation Industrial Park in Daguan County from a small mountain village in Mugan Town. In 2023, the company collaborated with Shanghai Lingwu Industrial Development Co., Ltd. to establish Lingzhu Daguan Qiongzhu Hall in Qibao Ancient Town, Minhang, officially entering the Shanghai market.
At today's event, the person in charge of Yunnan Xizhi Bamboo Company introduced the design characteristics, technological value, cultural connotations, and other aspects of local bamboo products. She introduced that a bamboo pole should be used to make furniture or handicrafts, and its bamboo roots should have a growth age of at least 50 years. The bamboo pole should be controlled within a growth cycle of 2.8-3.8 years. If it is too short, its toughness will be insufficient, and if it is too long, it will be easy to crack. Bamboo that meets the age limit needs to be carefully selected to meet the morphological requirements before it can enter the processes of mold, moth, and crack prevention. A piece of qiongzhu furniture and handicraft requires multiple complex processes such as straightening, shaping, assembly, polishing, coloring, and painting to be completed, making it extremely valuable.
This year, inspired by the aid cadres in Yunnan, Xizhi Bamboo Company attempted to develop small bamboo handicrafts, expand the company's product line, and with the support of funds from the East West cooperation, set up a public welfare workshop for disabled people to train them in the production and processing of small bamboo handicrafts. At today's event, the disabled assistance public welfare workshop also released products such as elegant play sets, tea set sets, and calligraphy sets, which were highly praised by Shanghai enterprises present. More than 1000 sets of products were ordered, with a value of over 400000 yuan.
Among them, Shanghai Zhongxin Development Co., Ltd. also donated 300000 yuan to the disability assistance public welfare workshop through the Minhang District Representative Office of the Shanghai Charity Foundation and the Meilong Charity Workstation in Minhang District, supporting the development of more products in the public welfare workshop and attracting more employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The attending guests also unveiled the official opening of Lingzhu Daguan Qiongzhu Hall on site, sending their best wishes.
This event has also facilitated cooperation between some enterprises that have long been interested in Qiongzhu and the Yunnan side. At the event, several enterprises including Shanghai Zhongrui Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. signed cooperation agreements with Xizhi Bamboo Company, intending to purchase goods worth nearly 20 million yuan.
