Rural farmers get help selling produce online as China steps up poverty alleviation efforts

E-commerce giants such as Alibaba and Pinduoduo are increasing efforts to help rural farmers and merchants sell their products online. China has made eradicating poverty an important goal to be achieved by the end of 2020. — SCMP

In 2018, farmer Chen Jiubei made a business decision that would lift not just her own fortunes, but those of others in her town.

It was something she stumbled upon: a relative mentioned that she had started livestreaming on e-commerce site Taobao, and while Chen said she did not know what that was, “I decided to give it a shot when I had some free time on my hands”.