In August 2021, Liu Kaifu knew his task was simple: boost village income.

The Party secretary of Mianhua village in Kaili, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, Guizhou province, had a plan to do just that with the help of the humble potato.

Liu introduced technology and generated funds, helping villagers to establish an agricultural cooperative and bring more agribusiness opportunities.

He surveyed the village land and realized that it was good to plant purple sweet potatoes. The villagers planted more than 73,000 square meters last year.