（Photo/Xinhua)

Pepper production has become a pillar industry for farmers in the poor areas of Zunyi, a southwestern city in China.

The annual planting area of pepper in Zunyi is more than 2 million mu (about 133,333 hectares) accounting for 10% and 40% of the country and the province total, respectively.

The output of pepper in Zunyi is 2.4 million tons; the planting output value is 6 billion yuan (about 0.86 million U.S. dollars), and the comprehensive output value is 15 billion yuan. The planting coverage reached 46.2 percent, and 120,000 poor households are involved.

Guizhou Zunyi International Chili Expo has been held for four consecutive years; with the help of this platform, Zunyi chili has attracted the attention of enterprises from around the country.

Today, the pepper industry has become a big industry to help farmers increase their incomes and a new engine to promote poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

Zunyi is the largest high-quality chili planting region in China, with the country's biggest shrimp chili professional market, said Cao Jicai, deputy director of the Party working committee in Xinpu New District of Zunyi, adding that Xiazi Town has formed a whole industry chain integrating production, sales and research.

"In the past, we needed to find buyers for chili. Now we can plant chilies and sell them at a reasonable price," Zhang Leigu, a villager from Shanbao Village, Yongle Town of Xinpu New District explained.

Zhang's family planted 18 mu of pepper this year, and his income will exceed 70,000 yuan.

"Now every family grows chilies, and everyone is a professional pepper farmer. Life is getting better and better every year," said Feng Zeli, director of pepper industry office in Xiazi Town of Xinpu New District.