In recent years, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province has become a key driver of rural revitalization thanks to its booming blueberry industry. Blueberries from the area have not only gained recognition in the international market, but have also boosted local economic development and increased farmers' incomes.

Walking through the Mengzi City Blueberry Farming Centre, you can see the automated greenhouses, where bunches of blueberries hang from the branches, healthy and tempting to the palate. Mengzi blueberries are not only appreciated in the market for their unique flavour and high quality, but also bring economic benefits to local farmers.

According to data from the Yunnan Provincial Government, in 2023, the area under blueberry cultivation in Mengzi was 1133 hectares, with an output value of 2.040 billion yuan, resulting in increased income for 32 administrative villages and more than 20.000 farmers.

“Agricultural planting projects can directly increase farmers’ income. Blueberry cultivation has had a direct impact on each region, allowing farmers to build new houses, acquire vehicles and revitalize local markets. This is because we pay rent to farmers for the land we use. In addition, the blueberry industry is highly standardized and requires a large amount of labor,” said Jiang Huitie, a blueberry cultivation expert.

Many local young people are returning to Mengzi to work in the blueberry industry after graduation. They strive to learn and perform in various positions, which not only improves their skills but also their quality of life.

“I am responsible for pest and disease control and quality assurance during blueberry cultivation and harvesting. I hope to continue learning how to better control blueberry pests and diseases at different stages, as well as gain more knowledge about food safety. I want to improve through learning to ensure an optimal growing environment and contribute to regional economic development. The better we grow, the more the villagers can harvest and the greater their economic benefits will be. I have been here for three years and have acquired a car. I hope to buy a house through this job,” said one technician.

Among the technicians who have promoted the development of the blueberry industry is Peruvian agricultural expert Marcelo Vergaray, who has worked in China for seven years.

The efforts of Marcelo and his Chinese colleagues have not only accelerated the development of the blueberry industry, but have also revitalized Mengzi's rural sector.

“As a company, I think we have contributed a lot to the local community, not only as a source of work and income for the locals, but we have also provided some cooperation, support, and we have gone to schools to improve their infrastructure a bit. We have tried to make sure that the entire area where we are can also have a better quality of life. When you come to work in a place like this, and I am a foreigner coming so far and feel part of this change, it is very satisfying,” said Marcelo Vergaray, an agricultural expert from Peru.

From a small fruit to a large industry, the joint efforts of Chinese and Peruvian experts have helped local people increase their income and explore their own special path toward rural revitalization.