Australia-Aided Agricultural Project in Central Guangxi Kicks OffThe karst ecological reconstruction project, with free aid from Australian government, has started in Xincheng County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.A local official said the project, which has a term of five years for implementation, would help improve the bad ecological environment in Xincheng County, upgrade agricultural production set-ups and raise farmers' income. Situated in central Guangxi, Xincheng County administers 13 townships, with a population of 400,000, most of whom are people of ethnic groups such as Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Mulam. Due to droughts, water shortages throughout the year, and bad natural conditions in Xincheng, local farmers are not doing well in growing crops and are suffering due to the lack of food. Their income is also very low. The Australia-aided project will require a total investment of 60 million yuan (about 7.23 million U.S. dollars), of which, the Australian government will provide free aid worth 4.94 million U.S. dollars. With the project, tasks will be accomplished involving improving the soil in karst-featured mountainous regions for growing cash crops, popularization of new grain strains, breeding of livestock, development of energy in rural areas, the training of farmers, , said the local officials. |
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