The Dehong Immigration Office is building a tea farm base in the host area to help the masses there gain more income and accelerate industrial development as well.

In 1993, over 700 residents were relocated in the host area in Yingjiang County for the construction of the Husong River Reservoir. The resettlement area at an altitude of 1,300 meters is 38 kilometers away from the Yingjiang County.

All the resettled people were farmers. At the end of 2009, the net income per capita was only 1,260 yuan ($194). They mainly earn their livings by planting fructus tsaoko, tea and rice as well as feeding poultry. Some also seek jobs in cities to support family expenses.

In order to taking advantage of the area’s natural resources, the local government has marked it as a demonstration zone of new socialist ruralness integrated with traveling, recreation and entertainment.

Authorities have also organized experts to conduct a profound investigation on the host area based on the development trends of the tea industry in recent years, resulting in a report about the feasibility of construction of the tea farmlands, which were approved by the Yunnan Immigration Development Bureau on November last year.

The tea farm base project, with a total investment of 2.5 million yuan, began in January this year, and is expected to be completed in 2013. The money comes from the balance of post-resettlement support from the central government.