Hebei Holistic Community Development Project
Location: Weichang County and Yixian County, Hebei Province
No. of recipients households: 160
No. of pass-on families: 160
Shanghuofang Village is located in Weichang County of Hebei Province. Villagers mainly grow corn and potatoes and raise cattle or sheep for a living. However, the income is far from enough to support their livelihood. Some families need to work in the city for labor work. Still, there are about 160 families, for some reasons, have found no way to generate income for living. The village is rather isolated as there is no paved road access available up till now. Renyizhuang Village is 25km south of Yixian County, Hebei Province. There is no industry in the village. What's more, villagers have to face the problem of water shortage. In 2005, villagers use the arable land to plant fruit trees instead of growing crop in answer to the government's policy of ecological construction and environmental conservation. Persimmon, walnut and almond trees were planted on the mountain slopes, but there was no harvest because of lack of water. Most working forces have to leave home for labor work in the city to support their families. There are still about 70% of the population cannot support their livelihood. In 2008, the average annual income per capita of these two villages was less than RMB1000.
Nevertheless, families from both villages can rely on the own natural resources for animal production. They want to use the mountain slopes to grow grass under the fruit trees and the grass land can be used to raise cattle to increase income. The local agricultural government authorities agree to introduce practical techniques to help the farmers raise the cattle and find distribution channels for the animals.
This project provides 160 families in Renyizhuang Village and Shanghuofang Village with 320 beef cattle so that recipient families can set up their own small cattle production business. Another 160 families will benefit from "passing on the gift" within three years. Local authorities fund the building of biogas wells and roads, while also providing training on ecology and environmental conservation. Within five years, the two communities should have achieved a sustainable way to improve their quality of life, have an improved environment and social harmony.