The local crop yuangen is processed into drinks and snacks at a factory in Chengduo county. WANG ZHUANGFEI/CHINA DAILY

The factory has more than 20 regular workers. It hires up to 70 people, mostly farmers nearby, during the peak season. A common worker in the factory earns about 1,800 yuan a month, and a technical worker gets some 3,000 yuan.

After working in the factory for a few years, Sonang Danzhu, 40, who used to be a barley farmer, now makes 3,200 yuan per month.

"Working in the factory has given us economic assurance," says Sonang Danzhu, whose family has six members. They were able to equip their home with electrical appliances like a television and a refrigerator last year.

After he started working in the factory, his family has also started growing yuangen, which brings more income than barley.

The factory made 4 million yuan last year.

The entire industry is involved in the green drive, Li says. After the juice from the plant is taken out in the factory, the waste is given back to the families to feed their yaks and goats, for example.

During the 12th Five-year Plan (2010-15), Qinghai combined targeted poverty reduction with ecological protection, and brought 1 million people out of poverty during the period, according to Ma Fengsheng, head of the province's poverty alleviation and development bureau.

Contact the writer at liuxiangrui@chinadaily.com.cn