A project jointly sponsored by the Canadian and Chinese governments to help farmers in southwest China's Guizhou province shake off poverty, is starting to make a difference after three years.
Gezald Chaovet, an official with the Canadian Embassy in China said during a talk with Mo Shiren, vice-governor of Guizhou province, that so far the project was proving satisfactory.
The project has helped raise the incomes of local farmers by offering small loans and making agricultural technology available.
So far, thanks to the scheme chicken farmers have increased their income by 1,500 (US$181) to 5,000 yuan (US$600).
With a total investment of 16 million yuan (US$1.9 million), the project mainly covers the two impoverished counties of Ziyun and Zhijin, directly benefiting some 22,800 residents, 75 percent of whom belong to ethnic minorities.
(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2003)
