A lemon planting base in Hongchun village, located at Xingyi, Guizhou province, expects a good harvest this year. As they hang bountifully from the lemon tree branches, the sour yellow fruits shine brilliantly in the sunlight thanks to Fu Yong.

Lemons hang full off the trees shining under the sunlight on a lemon planting base in Hongchun village, located at Xingyi, Guizhou province. [Photo from ldqxn.com]

Originating from Southeast Asia, lemons are rich in vitamin C and other elements, therefore they contain high medicinal and food value. Moreover, lemons also have high economic value.

From the leaves to each part of the fruit, a lemon is an all-around raw material that can be used to process green products like essential oil, advanced cosmetics, medicines, high-level drinks and cooking oil.

Due to these benefits, Fu Yong lead locals to build a lemon planting company in Hongchun village in 2014. Fu Yong said that the purpose of establishing the company is to carry the local farmers out of poverty.

Leading local farmers out of poverty, Fu Yong, the person in charge of the company, planting lemons in Xingyi. [Photo from ldqxn.com]

According to Fu Yong, along with the 500mu (million units) lemons, the company also has planted 500mu loquats and 200mu mangos, which solved the employment problem of 80 local farmers. The annual salary of the farmers is more than 1.6 million yuan ($240,000).

There is no shortage of evidence of Fu Yong's warmth and generosity for the town. He opened a stone factory in Hongxing Industrial Park before 2013, which also provided jobs for people. Also at that time, he donated 10,000 yuan for the removal of Jianshan Miao Village. He also funded 1,000 yuan to a poor child in his hometown in 2014.

Fu Yong thought that the most useful solution to get the villagers out of poverty is to solve the employment problem.

After much research and studying, he found that the climate in the Nanpan River area is similar to the climate in Southeast Asia. He then tested his hunch by planting some lemon trees. To his and the village's delight, he welcomed a fruitful harvest in the first year.

Fu Yong charitable acts continued by repairing a road to Hongchun village, which has brought great convenience for the local farmers. Local farmers were recruited to work on the lemon bases and learn planting techniques, receiving a lot of salaries for their hard work.

The lemon base attracts lots of visitors to pick the sour fruits during their harvest season. [Photo from ldqxn.com]