Chongqing - For an impressive 13 consecutive years, Chongqing's Qianjiang District has been the city’s top producer of silkworm cocoons. This success is largely due to the district’s full utilization of its afforestation tree species, an achievement spearheaded by Yang Furong. She is a deputy to the sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress and an official with the Qianjiang Forestry Bureau’s Forestry Science and Technology Station.
Yang’s approach to sericulture is both hands-on and comprehensive. She seamlessly blends advanced technology and expert knowledge into practical applications. Yang extends her influence beyond mere guidance by leading the improvement of sericulture base management. She has organized specialized forestry science and technology training for over 3,000 individuals, substantially enhancing local expertise.
Reflecting on her work over the past year, Yang said, “Over the last year, I’ve devoted most of my time to cultivating local tree species. One of my key goals was to reintroduce these native trees to enrich our city’s green spaces,” she explained.
Her efforts have notably boosted the city’s biodiversity, especially with the large-leaved beech and sassafras. Her groundbreaking work in seedling technology for these species has bridged the gap between scientific advancements and practical farming methods.
Yang’s concern for her community extends beyond forestry. She vividly remembers the water scarcity during the 2022 drought. “Our station had to spend over 70,000 yuan (about USD 10,000) on water just to sustain beech tree saplings during last year’s drought,” Yang recounted. This experience deepened her concern about water scarcity in rural areas and led her to question if this issue was unique to Qianjiang or more widespread.
At the first session of the 6th Chongqing Municipal People's Congress in 2023, Yang proposed building small reservoirs to improve rural water supplies. Her suggestions were backed by extensive research, including numerous field visits and data collection. She found that small, decentralized water supplies in Chongqing’s northeast and southeast often face reduced water availability during droughts and low rainfall in winter, affecting rural water security and safe drinking water access.
The Chongqing Water Resources Bureau has taken action thanks to Yang's advocacy. In their 2023 Chongqing Water Network Construction Plan, they have begun building water networks in ten districts and counties, focusing particularly on rural areas. This includes constructing a new small reservoir in Qianjiang to address the regional water shortage.
Yang is ready to present further proposals at the second session of the sixth Chongqing Municipal People’s Congress this year. She focuses on establishing Chongqing as a leading city in land greening and advancing the agricultural product processing industry. She remains committed to amplifying the voices of the people, ensuring their concerns and needs are recognized and addressed.