WFP has been participating in, contributing to, and witnessing the agricultural and rural development and poverty reduction progress in Gansu.
In the 1980s and 1990s, WFP implemented several comprehensive, large-scale rural development projects in the province which promoted its agricultural and rural economic development.
In recent years, development and characteristic industries that took advantage of local conditions has enabled Gansu to overcome the significant challenges that the dire poverty commonly existed among residents living throughout its borders posed.
Remarkable achievements have been made with regard to poverty alleviation, income growth and livelihood improvement and the province's agricultural and rural economy have been developing rapidly.
We are willing to strengthen cooperation with Gansu to explore innovative methods of achieving sustainable agricultural and rural development and share applicable and successful experiences in Gansu and other parts of China with other developing countries to help them improve food security and nutrition.
Taking advantage of Gansu’s natural climate and technology in potato planting, we implemented the Zinc-enriched Potatoes Project in cooperation with the province to support smallholder farmers to plant zinc-rich potatoes aiming at exploring a sustainable and innovative way to improve livelihood and tackle hidden hunger caused by zinc deficiency and contributing to the realization of China’s rural vitalization and nutrition improvement goals.
The project yields benefits in areas such as sustainable development, nutrition and environmental protection. It improves the ability of farmers to produce nutritious and high-quality agricultural products increase added value, boosts smallholders’incomes and promotes health by increasing zinc availability.
By promoting standardized potato cultivation techniques and novel storage methods, it boosts water utilization efficiency, increases farmer’s ability to withstand natural disasters and enhances resilience to climate change which brings ecological benefits to the sustainable development of the project areas.