Villagers escape poverty through the grapevine

Efforts have also been made to boost the added value of grape industry.

Since 2018, a new grape variety called Centennial Seedless has been grown on trial in around 500 mu of land. The village has a total of 2,700 mu of grape land.

"The new breed, after being dried into raisins, can be sold at 60 yuan a kilogram, compared with 25 to 40 yuan per kg for a traditionally grown breed called Concubine Fragrance Red," Tian said. The new breed is expected to enter its full bearing age in the next few years, he added.

In addition, agricultural technicians have been invited to train farmers to improve their grape cultivation skills, such as trimming, binding of vines and use of organic fertilizer, Tian said.

The village has also gone the extra mile to boost employment of impoverished people.

Aykhan Aysan's family of six, including three minors and one elderly person, relied on the income from 4.5 mu of grape land. Their annual income was less than 20,000 yuan.

Since last year, she began working for a grape-themed agritainment yard in the village, where tourists can pick grapes and enjoy the leisure of rural life. She earns around 2,000 yuan a month by working there.

Last year, her family's revenue has more than doubled to 43,600 yuan, Aykhan said.

So far, 784 residents of the village have found jobs, a majority of which came with the help of the government. Among them, 62 have found jobs outside Hotan prefecture, Tian said.

Thanks to all the measures in place, all poor households in the village have been lifted out of poverty. In the past 12 months, the annual average income of the residents reached more than 12,000 yuan.