Interview: Olive oil industry fuels economic growth in Mianning County, SW China's Sichuan Province

The olive oil industry in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province has played a crucial role in driving local economic growth, especially as a poverty alleviation effort. The region has successfully attracted businesses that have adopted advanced cultivation techniques, establishing thousands of hectares of high-standard production bases. These developments have provided significant benefits to local villagers through land share dividends and job creation.

Since 2011, olive production has been introduced to the area, with fields now cultivated with new, advanced varieties. "We have learned that the production is increasing day by day," said an observer. Compared to traditional cultivation methods that required 6 to 8 years for the first yield, the new techniques and advanced genetic varieties have shortened this period to just 3 years. "This is very encouraging not only for individuals and locals but also for the entire community," the observer added.

An poverty reduction official from Pakistan highlighted the innovative approaches used in Mianning. "I came here to see very different ways to engage local people," he noted. The integration of the local community has resulted in better outcomes, drawing on the experience of policymakers, think tanks, and exemplary technological techniques used in China. He emphasized that this progressive model could be productive if implemented in other countries.

The advancements in Mianning’s olive oil industry serve as a testament to the power of technological innovation and community engagement in driving economic progress and improving livelihoods.