Bumper crop of sorghum fuels liquor economy

A bumper crop of red sorghum was produced on about 19,000 hectares of farmland in Renhuai, Guizhou province — a harvest so heavy that the local government allocated machinery and provided scientific and technical guidance to help farmers speed up the process.

Renhuai is the home of China's signature liquor brand Kweichow Moutai. A weather-resistant crop backed by stable demand for Moutai, sorghum is more lucrative for local farmers than other crops.

A total of 52,000 households are engaged in the cultivation of sorghum in the city, with an average increase of more than 1,000 yuan ($155) in annual household income, according to Renhuai's agricultural and rural affairs bureau.

The area dedicated to sorghum cultivation in the city increased by 20 percent over last year, with total output value expected to exceed 750 million yuan.

Zhao Yandi contributed to this story.