[Poverty alleviation story] Gansu Xihe "smart" urges "her economy" corn leaf waste becomes "fashion darling"

  [Explanation] The 11th "Longnan Qiqiao Daughters Festival" has been suspended this year due to the impact of the epidemic. However, under the influence of the festival, the "hometown of Chinese Qiqiao culture" in Xihe County, Longnan City, Gansu Province, has inherited the "Qiaoqiao Culture". "Qiao women" poured into all walks of life, and the ascendant "her economy" gradually became the "main force" for local poverty to get rid of poverty.

  He Fang, a girl from Xihe rural area, has been fond of straw weaving since she was a child. As soon as she had free time in farming, she started to make straw weaving in her yard and neighboring sisters.

A few days ago, she introduced to reporters in a straw weaving cooperative that she discovered that "the humble rural straw weaving was regarded as a treasure by outsiders" when she accidentally went out a few years ago. Through continuous innovation of straw weaving techniques in recent years, it has become a trend. Fashion "darlings" such as tables and chairs, car accessories, and satchels.

  [Concurrent] He Fang, Head of Qiaomeizi Straw Cooperative

  The craftsmanship of our Xihe County was passed down from generation to generation in the 1980s. From the ancient times and through my inspection of the market outside, we combined it with a higher level of modern market integration. (produced) Straw bags with women's backs, fruit plates, slippers, and so on, basically all the things that have been pulled are sold abroad.

  [Explanation] Due to the continuous shortage of straw weaving market demand in recent years, He Fang opened the "Qiaomeizi Straw Weaving Cooperative" in 2017, attracting more than 200 left-behind women from surrounding villages to participate in straw weaving, solving the problem of employment and income increase during leisure time.

  In the “poverty alleviation workshop” that was expanded not long ago, weaving workshops of different categories were set up on two floors. Corn leaves, reeds, wicker, etc., used as waste in the fields, were turned into by dozens of “begging girls”. In addition, we have created creative home furnishing products, indoor ornamental handicrafts and fashionable satchels.

  [Concurrent] He Fang, Head of Qiaomeizi Straw Cooperative

  I feel that our craftsmanship is so good. From the moment grandma, they used this craftsmanship to support the family, but now since I started, after I dig into this, our straw weaving can not only be exported to foreign countries, but my ultimate goal is We hope that our Xihe straw weaving can develop into more valuable crafts.

  [Explanation] The local girl Lu Panpan has taken the college entrance examination for two years. She told reporters that some of the students continue to go to school, and some also learn technology, and she wants to learn this craft through the cursive inheritance.

  [Concurrent] Lu Panpan, a staff member of Qiaomeizi Straw Cooperative

  I have finished the exam for two years. Those who study technology and those who continue to study, (I think) learn a craft.

  [Explanation] In recent years, the government has inherited the vitality of this folk culture through productive protection. It has planned to develop more than 200 products in the ten series of "Qiqiaofang", involving embroidery, health pillows, women's handbags, etc., with the e-commerce network Gradually improve, economic benefits appear year by year.

  Reporter Li Yalong and Feng Zhijun report from Longnan, Gansu

Editor in charge: [Li Yuxin]