Maoming High-tech Industrial Development Zone, which covers Qijing town in Dianbai district and a partial strip mine in Maonan district, saw fruitful results in its poverty alleviation efforts in 2019.

There are currently 229 impoverished households in the hi-tech zone enjoying the minimum living guarantee, as well as 239 impoverished people eligible for the "Five Guarantees" (food, clothing, medical care, housing, and burial expenses) according to relevant policies.

All of the registered impoverished people have been included in the bail-out scope for major and critical diseases. In 2019, 24 impoverished households in the hi-tech zone received assistance, with the amount of money totaling 50,000 yuan ($7,060).

By April 21, all 1,116 registered impoverished people in the hi-tech zone have been insured for medical insurance and critical illness insurance, while 826 out of the 1,116 have been insured for endowment insurance.

The hi-tech zone finished the renovation of the dilapidated houses of 11 impoverished families in 2019.

In addition, the hi-tech zone has been advancing its poverty alleviation efforts through industrial development. By April 21, it has invested a total of 10.61 million yuan ($1.5 million) in its 77 industrial poverty alleviation projects, including 34 assets income ones and 43 planting and breeding ones.

Construction of the 200 mu (13.33 hectares) passion fruit planting base in the town's Zhangwu village started in 2019, while that of the 50 mu passion fruit planting base in Zhangwang village has been completed and is expected to produce benefits in July.

Specialized cooperatives and family farms in the hi-tech zone were encouraged to sign cooperation agreements with registered impoverished households to reduce their production and marketing risks, increasing their family incomes. To date, a total of 60 impoverished families in the hi-tech zone have reached cooperation with five cooperatives.

The hi-tech zone also encouraged all sectors of society to consume products and services from impoverished people in poverty-stricken areas. Since 2017, it has helped impoverished households sell a total of 167 jin (83.5 kilograms) of dried turnips, 5,700 jin of chickens, and 55,000 jin of wax gourds.

To improve the job skills of impoverished people and promote their stable employment, the hi-tech zone organized several training classes in 2019 in livestock breeding technology and disease prevention, bee-keeping technology, as well as electricians. More than 300 people took part in the training classes.