The People's Political Consultative Conference News reported that the two levels of the Political Consultative Conference in Wenshan Prefecture are making every effort to promote the high-quality development of the star anise industry.

Green mountains, beautiful countryside, and rich people

—— A brief note on the high-quality development of the star anise industry supported by the two-level CPPCC in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province

“Star anise is a cash tree, planting it for a year brings wealth for a hundred years.” In the cold winter, entering Funing County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, one can see vast star anise forests, like green nets covering the mountains. “In 2023, the star anise harvest was over 30,000 pounds, with an income of over 100,000 yuan,” said farmer Li Jinhui from Dongbo Township, beaming with joy.

Funing County, known as the 'Hometown of Star Anise in China,' has been planting star anise since 1722, with a history of over 300 years. In recent years, the county has fully relied on its unique resource endowment of having the largest planting area, the highest yield in the province, and the best quality in the country for star anise. It has designated the star anise tree as the 'county tree' and made star anise the leading industry under the 'one county, one industry' initiative, establishing an industrial development leadership group, planning and constructing industrial parks, and successively introducing a series of support policies and investment attraction incentives, painting a new picture of rural revitalization that greened the mountains, beautified the countryside, and enriched the people.

Behind this new picture is also the support from the two-level CPPCC organizations in Wenshan Prefecture and Funing County. In recent years, the two-level CPPCC in Wenshan Prefecture has deeply implemented the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee's '3815' strategic deployment and the Wenshan Prefectural Party Committee and government’s 'three trees' industrial development decision-making deployment, actively conducting research around the development of the star anise industry, proactively building consultation platforms, focusing on identifying the root problems, actively providing suggestions and advice, gathering consensus on development, and promoting the star anise industry to accelerate its growth.

On December 8, 2023, a remote consultation meeting focusing on promoting the development of the 'three trees' industries of star anise, camellia oil, and garlic was held at the Wenshan Prefecture CPPCC. During the meeting, CPPCC members and representatives of farmers focused on the star anise industry and proposed suggestions such as increasing support, tapping local technical talent, strengthening technical breakthroughs, improving planting techniques and economic benefits, and stimulating the endogenous motivation of the masses.

The suggestions received a positive response from Chen Fengtong, Deputy Secretary of the Funing County Party Committee. 'We always regard the star anise industry as a development priority, implementing eight measures to promote the development of the star anise industry, and will fully promote the high-quality development of the star anise industry in the future.'

This is a microcosm. The Wenshan Prefecture CPPCC has always actively utilized various forms such as inspections and studies, speeches at conferences, research visits, reflecting social sentiments, and consultations in courtyards to contribute the wisdom and strength of the CPPCC to the development of the star anise industry.

In June 2022, the Prefectural CPPCC led heads of relevant departments at the prefectural and Funing County levels to visit Linxiang City to study the successful experiences of the Dianhong tea and walnut industries, finding valuable lessons for promoting the development of the star anise industry. In August, the Prefectural CPPCC guided the Funing County CPPCC to carry out a consultation activity on the topic of 'Promoting the integrated development of the star anise industry and increasing income for the masses' in the Na Lai Village Committee of Ayong Township, one of the main production areas for star anise, reaching an agreement on the '4 five-cent' model for profit distribution, providing guarantees for consolidating poverty alleviation achievements and effectively connecting with rural revitalization, and exploring beneficial win-win scenarios for farmers, village collective economic organizations, cooperatives, and leading enterprises.

The Funing County CPPCC consciously takes on responsibilities, serving the healthy development of the Funing star anise industry as a strategic move for the CPPCC to focus on the center and fulfill its duties for the people. Since 2020, it has continuously paid attention to the development of the star anise industry for three years, actively conducting research around issues such as pest control in star anise and the creation of 'one county, one industry' demonstration counties, proposing many targeted and constructive opinions and suggestions.

“Especially in 2021, we specifically went to Liuwang Forest Farm and Teng County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to conduct research on the development of the star anise industry. After listening to opinions and suggestions from various parties, we formed the 'Research Report on the Development of the Star Anise Industry in Funing County,' proposing seven suggestions including precise positioning for planning, government guidance as a demonstration, focusing on scientific quality improvement, cultivating leading brands, and highlighting cultural characteristics, which received high attention from the county committee and county government,” said a relevant person in charge of the Funing County CPPCC.

At the same time, the county CPPCC actively strengthened communication and coordination with the functional departments of the county government, drafting the 'Work Plan for Creating a Demonstration County for 'One County, One Industry' (Star Anise Industry)' and proposing many targeted opinions and suggestions, many of which were incorporated into the work plan.

Through the efforts of all parties, the star anise industry has now become a genuine 'green bank' for the local people. Currently, the total planting area of star anise in the county is 692,000 acres, with a fruit production of 180,000 tons in 2022, an annual output value of 2.7 billion yuan, and a benefiting rural population of 301,000; it is expected that by 2025, the planting area of star anise in the county will increase to 750,000 acres, achieving an agricultural output value of 3.7 billion yuan and a processing output value of 4.6 billion yuan.

Yurong, Chairman of the Wenshan Prefecture CPPCC, stated that the star anise industry is an industry for the local people to increase income and achieve long-term development. CPPCC organizations at all levels in the prefecture should fully leverage the role of the CPPCC as a specialized consultation institution, adhere to long-term efforts, actively provide advice and suggestions around industrial development in consultation, research, and democratic supervision, and fully promote the high-quality development of the star anise industry.