[Li Xiaohua/File photo]

Derive from an impressing field research conducted during the recent Spring Festival, Li Xiaohua, deputy to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), realized the importance of rural road construction and calls for legislation on the issue.

Li, also head of Jintai Hog Growers Association in Xichong County, in Southwest China's Sichuan province, learnt from her son that one of his classmates from a relatively poor village where even without road access in Yanting County, Mianyang city of Sichuan.

The deputy who serves two consecutive terms has long been focusing on issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers, so she decided to take a look of that village.

To her surprise, there is a long walk of 12km to reach the village. When arrived, she went door to door to learn more about the village. She found the ecological environment and the farming base of this village is alike to her own, but farmers from her village organize associates and deliver fresh organ vegetables to the high end supermarkets in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. This helps the farmers earn more than before and some 30 poor households got rid of poverty.

However, without roads, young labors of this village have to make their lives somewhere else, leaving left-behind elders and uncultivated lands.

Now after hard efforts, a road connecting the village has been built. Li intends to invest in this village and introduces the "company + farmers" module to benefit poverty-stricken farmers from the industry chain of providing fresh vegetables to urban residents.

The Fifth Session of the 12th NPC opens on Sunday. Li Xiaohua, together with other deputies, submits a motion to continuingly facilitate rural road construction in China.

Email: lijia@nbd.com.cn