**1. Introduction**

Cities and villages interact and support each other [1,2], but rapid economic liberalization has led to socio-economic polarization between them. Furthermore, rural equal development has become a serious global issue [3,4]. Compared with a "city", a "village" is a region that has a vast rural land area outside the built-up area of a city, and a multilevel settlement space of different scales [5]. A village is a regional system that comprises different elements that, together with a city, constitutes a regional complex [6,7]. Rural development refers to the process of a continuous evolution of the economy, society, and settlements of rural areas, and is a current topic of interest in rural geography [8]. China's urban rural dual system and urban-biased development strategy have gradually widened the gap between urban and rural areas, especially with respect to the problem of rural decline. The shortage of rural elements, structural imbalances, and weak natural, economic, and technological degradation that are caused by rural poverty and other "rural diseases", are becoming more serious [9]. The data on "file establishment and registration" in 2013

**Citation:** Wang, Y.; Qu, L.; Wang, J.; Liu, Q.; Chen, Z. Sustainable Revitalization and Green Development Practices in China's Northwest Arid Areas: A Case Study of Yanchi County, Ningxia. *Land* **2022**, *11*, 1902. https://doi.org/10.3390/ land11111902

Academic Editors: Li Ma, Yingnan Zhang, Muye Gan and Zhengying Shan

Received: 13 September 2022 Accepted: 24 October 2022 Published: 26 October 2022

**Publisher's Note:** MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

**Copyright:** © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

revealed that illness, disability, education, and disasters are the main factors that cause poverty [10]. The differences in factors, such as water, soil, air, health, and people in rural areas, have led to human–earth relationships, industrial structure, and three living spaces, which make China's rural poverty multidimensional, contiguous and significant [11].

After the reform and opening up, China's agricultural and rural developments have made great achievements; moreover, farmers' lives have improved, from having insufficient food and clothing, to becoming well-off overall [12]. In the 1990s, agriculture, rural areas, and farmers (three rural) issues" were put forward for the first time [13]. In 2005, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee of the Party pointed out that it is necessary to insist on solving the "three rural" issues as a top priority in the whole party's work. Since 2004, the No. 1 Central Documents have continuously focused on the issue of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, for 18 years. The development of "three rural" in China was closely related to poverty. Poverty alleviation and development have achieved remarkable results, in promoting the development of "agriculture, rural areas and farmers".

China's rural areas have undergone tremendous changes. For instance, China's poverty alleviation and development have gone through five stages: rural economic system reform, regional development-style poverty alleviation, comprehensive poverty alleviation development, whole village promotion, participatory poverty alleviation, and targeted poverty alleviation [14]. Moreover, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, according to the current standards, 98.99 million rural poor people in China have been lifted out of poverty; 832 poor counties emerged from poverty, 128,000 poor villages are no longer poor. Overall regional poverty has been resolved, and the United Nations 2030 poverty reduction goals that are related to the agenda for sustainable development, have been achieved [15]. The per capita net income of the poor increased from CNY 2982 in 2015, to CNY 10,740 in 2020, and absolute poverty has been eliminated.

After 2020, there will be relative poverty problems that are characterized by regional and urban–rural income differences; unequal access to public social services and multidimensional poverty [16]; rural backwardness problems, such as weak infrastructure, hollow villages, old and weak rural subjects, and weak governance capabilities [11], and the instability of poverty alleviation and return to poverty as a result of disasters, diseases, and epidemics. Therefore, the new poverty pattern requires the formulation of new assistance strategies to improve the efficiency of the use of assistance resources, enhance the self-development ability of poverty-stricken populations and to facilitate the endogenous development momentum of impoverished counties [17]. In 2018, China entered the intersection and integration period of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization [18]. After the victory of poverty alleviation, the "three rural" work center has turned to comprehensive rural revitalization. It is necessary to improve the dynamic monitoring and assistance mechanism, to prevent poverty from returning, and to do a good job of consolidating and expanding the results of poverty alleviation, in order to effectively connect with rural revitalization. The No. 1 Central Document of 2021 pointed out that the establishment of a five-year transition period will gradually lead to a smooth transition, from concentrated resources to supporting poverty alleviation, and comprehensively promote rural revitalization [19].

China has a vast territory, and there are differences between natural environmental factors such as topography, hydrology, climate, soil, and vegetation, and socio-economic factors, such as population and the economy [20], resulting in uneven levels of rural development [21]. It is necessary to adapt measures to local conditions in poverty alleviation areas, and carry out orderly efforts to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, in order to effectively connect with rural revitalization. Relevant research on the theory of convergence, regional models, and implementation paths needs to be promoted urgently. Therefore, this study was based on the analysis and linkage framework of the difference between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, as well as on the investigation and mechanism refinement of the typical regional model of Yanchi County, in order to provide theoretical support and a model reference for the consolidation and

expansion of poverty alleviation achievements in the northwest arid area, and to guide the effective connection of rural revitalization. The main contribution of this study is that it explores the causes of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in China's northwest arid areas, investigates the mechanism of sustainable poverty alleviation in empirical case analyses, and subsequently puts forward a green development path and mode that are conducive to realizing structural optimization and functional improvement in arid areas.

#### **2. Theoretical Analysis**

#### *2.1. A Theoretical Model for Connecting Poverty Alleviation and Rural Revitalization*

Targeted poverty alleviation is a war of annihilation, and the working time node is 2015–2020, to focus on impoverished areas, counties, villages, and households. From the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy that was proposed at the 19th National Congress in 2017, to the comprehensive revitalization of all villages in 2050, targeted poverty alleviation aims at eliminating absolute poverty; solving the basic problems of poor farmers, such as income, food and clothing, housing, medical treatment and education; the first centennial goal of China's socialist construction; and building a well-off society in an all-round way. Rural revitalization aims at realizing agricultural and rural modernization, and solving relative poverty. It requires industrial prosperity, ecological livability, rural civilization, effective governance, and prosperity. Rural revitalization is inconsistent with the second centenary goal of China's socialist construction, that is, to help all people prosper together and build a prosperous, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and beautiful modern socialist country. Targeted poverty alleviation considers farmers as the basic unit, counties as the starting point and the central government as the overall planner. Meanwhile, rural revitalization takes villages as the basic unit, towns as the starting point, and national leadership as the overall planner [2,22]. Targeted poverty alleviation is a bottom-line constraint task. The state has carried out a large-scale third-party evaluation of effectiveness assessment, and rural revitalization is a task that is assessed for expected results (Table 1).


**Table 1.** The distinction between targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

### *2.2. The Mechanisms of Rural Revitalization from the Perspective of People-Land-Industry-Wealth-Right*

Poverty alleviation is an important basis for rural revitalization. Rural revitalization can consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation [23]. The challenges of linking poverty alleviation and rural revitalization are the linking units, contents, policies, and sequences of work. From the perspective of the work unit, rural revitalization needs to

shift from farmers to villages. Furthermore, from the perspective of work content, rural revitalization involves the revitalization of ecology, culture, and organization, especially the guidance and drive of capable people, new business entities, and leading enterprises. From the perspective of the working team, the retention and upgrading of the first secretary of poverty alleviation, the team stationed in the village and the person in charge of assistance are related to the construction of rural revitalization cadres. From the perspective of work policies, the continuation and adjustment of various poverty alleviation policies affect the speed and quality of rural revitalization. From the perspective of work sequences, the preferred areas and priorities of rural revitalization [24] should be clarified, in order to reasonably formulate industrial, village, and regional revitalization plans. enterprises. From the perspective of the working team, the retention and upgrading of the first secretary of poverty alleviation, the team stationed in the village and the person in charge of assistance are related to the construction of rural revitalization cadres. From the perspective of work policies, the continuation and adjustment of various poverty alleviation policies affect the speed and quality of rural revitalization. From the perspective of work sequences, the preferred areas and priorities of rural revitalization [24] should be clarified, in order to reasonably formulate industrial, village, and regional revitalization plans. The country has put forward a strategy for rural revitalization, and guided farmers to use land for construction, agriculture, and ecology, in order to develop rural industries

*2.2. The Mechanisms of Rural Revitalization from the Perspective of People-Land-Industry-*

Poverty alleviation is an important basis for rural revitalization. Rural revitalization can consolidate and enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation [23]. The challenges of linking poverty alleviation and rural revitalization are the linking units, contents, policies, and sequences of work. From the perspective of the work unit, rural revitalization needs to shift from farmers to villages. Furthermore, from the perspective of work content, rural revitalization involves the revitalization of ecology, culture, and organization, especially the guidance and drive of capable people, new business entities, and leading

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*Wealth-Right*

The country has put forward a strategy for rural revitalization, and guided farmers to use land for construction, agriculture, and ecology, in order to develop rural industries through governments at all levels, social organizations, and rural talents. Through cooperative organizations, leading enterprises, and the integration of the tertiary industries, farmers' income would increase, the collective economy of the village would be strengthened, and an economic foundation will be provided for the prosperity of rural industries; these would lead to a prosperous life, and ecological livability. In addition, through innovative talent mechanisms and land use policies, the right prerequisites for rural civilization and governance can effectively be provided (Figure 1). through governments at all levels, social organizations, and rural talents. Through cooperative organizations, leading enterprises, and the integration of the tertiary industries, farmers' income would increase, the collective economy of the village would be strengthened, and an economic foundation will be provided for the prosperity of rural industries; these would lead to a prosperous life, and ecological livability. In addition, through innovative talent mechanisms and land use policies, the right prerequisites for rural civilization and governance can effectively be provided (Figure 1).

#### **Figure 1.** Mechanisms of rural revitalization in the perspective of people-land-industry-wealthright. *2.3. The Internal Logic of the Effective Connection between Poverty Alleviation and Rural Revitalization*

*2.3. The Internal Logic of the Effective Connection between Poverty Alleviation and Rural Revitalization* In order to achieve an effective connection between the consolidation and expansion of the results of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the internal logical relationship between the two should be understood. In practice, T-P-G (strategic target, core power and mechanism guarantee) interact and influence each other to form a synergistic whole of power support, guaranteed foundation, and integration and optimization (Figure 2). <sup>1</sup> The dynamic support of T-P takes farmers as the main body, and activates farmers' endogenous power through production empowerment. <sup>2</sup> The guarantee basis of T-G; the "five batches" and "six precision" of poverty alleviation; the "trinity" poverty alleviation pattern; the comprehensive "four inspections and four subsidies"; the monitoring and assistance to prevent the return of poverty; and a series of effective working mechanisms,

are the institutional basis and guarantee for effective connection with rural revitalization to meet the needs of the new development stage of rural revitalization. <sup>3</sup> The integration and optimization of P-G, the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, and the core driving force, depend on farmers. It is also inseparable from the protection of government organizations and policy mechanisms, that is, taking farmers as the main body, enabling rural industrial development, building a stable and long-term mechanism, with overall management promoting the driving force of rural endogenous development. The advantages and combinations of the interaction and influence of different regional factors are different, forming different patterns [25]. between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, and the core driving force, depend on farmers. It is also inseparable from the protection of government organizations and policy mechanisms, that is, taking farmers as the main body, enabling rural industrial development, building a stable and long-term mechanism, with overall management promoting the driving force of rural endogenous development. The advantages and combinations of the interaction and influence of different regional factors are different, forming different patterns [25].

In order to achieve an effective connection between the consolidation and expansion

of the results of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the internal logical relationship between the two should be understood. In practice, T-P-G (strategic target, core power and mechanism guarantee) interact and influence each other to form a synergistic whole of power support, guaranteed foundation, and integration and optimization (Figure 2). ① The dynamic support of T-P takes farmers as the main body, and activates farmers' endogenous power through production empowerment. ② The guarantee basis of T-G; the "five batches" and "six precision" of poverty alleviation; the "trinity" poverty alleviation pattern; the comprehensive "four inspections and four subsidies"; the monitoring and assistance to prevent the return of poverty; and a series of effective working mechanisms, are the institutional basis and guarantee for effective connection with rural revitalization to meet the needs of the new development stage of rural revitalization. ③ The integration and optimization of P-G, the effective connection

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**Figure 2.** The internal logic of effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural **Figure 2.** The internal logic of effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

#### revitalization. **3. Materials and Methods**

#### *3.1. Data Sources and Processing*

**3. Materials and Methods** *3.1. Data Sources and Processing* This paper adopted multi-source data collection methods, such as desk research and government document files, in order to ensure the validity of the case study. Relevant data and information were obtained by conducting semi-structured interviews with some government departments: Rural Revitalization Bureau, Agriculture and Rural Bureau, This paper adopted multi-source data collection methods, such as desk research and government document files, in order to ensure the validity of the case study. Relevant data and information were obtained by conducting semi-structured interviews with some government departments: Rural Revitalization Bureau, Agriculture and Rural Bureau, Natural Resources Bureau, Housing and Urban–Rural Development Bureau, and the Development and Reform Bureau, in addition to members of townships, village committee directors, farmers, etc. (Table 2). From September 2020 to October 2021, the research team conducted three field investigations in the sampled districts and counties.


Natural Resources Bureau, Housing and Urban–Rural Development Bureau, and the Development and Reform Bureau, in addition to members of townships, village committee directors, farmers, etc. (Table 2). From September 2020 to October 2021, the research team conducted three field investigations in the sampled districts and counties.

**Data Name Data Source Data Type**

National Geomatics Center of China (http://www.webmap.cn/) in 2019 (accessed on

Vector

. It is located at

Land use change survey mapYanchi Land and Resources Bureau Vector

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**Table 2.** Data sources and description. Administrative boundary data

**Table 2.** Data sources and description.

#### *3.2. Research Area* (106°30′~107°47′ E, 37°04′~38°10′ N), with a total land area of 8522.2 km<sup>2</sup>

Yanchi County is located in the eastern part of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (106◦300~107◦47<sup>0</sup> E, 37◦040~38◦10<sup>0</sup> N), with a total land area of 8522.2 km<sup>2</sup> . It is located at the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia (Figure 3), and belongs to a typical farming-pastoral zone [26]. Yanchi County has great resource and environmental constraints. The north is located in the south edge of Maowusu sandy land, and the south is the Loess hilly and gully region, with a fragile ecological environment. The average annual rainfall in Yanchi county is 311 mm, while the annual evaporation in southwest China is 966–1030 mm, and 1030–1052 mm in northeast China. The lack of regional water resources, the sparsely populated land, and the fragile ecology are the main problems for rural development in the county [27]. the junction of Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Inner Mongolia (Figure 3), and belongs to a typical farming-pastoral zone [26]. Yanchi County has great resource and environmental constraints. The north is located in the south edge of Maowusu sandy land, and the south is the Loess hilly and gully region, with a fragile ecological environment. The average annual rainfall in Yanchi county is 311 mm, while the annual evaporation in southwest China is 966–1030 mm, and 1030–1052 mm in northeast China. The lack of regional water resources, the sparsely populated land, and the fragile ecology are the main problems for rural development in the county [27].

#### *3.3. Yanchi County's Poverty Alleviation and Rural Revitalization Process*

*3.3. Yanchi County's Poverty Alleviation and Rural Revitalization Process* Yanchi County is an old revolutionary base area, and a national poverty-stricken county. Before poverty alleviation, the problem of rural hollowing out was serious. The rural resident population accounted for only 47% of the total agricultural population. The development momentum of Tan sheep, day lily, and other leading industries was insufficient. The new business entities were scattered, weak and small, and the driving Yanchi County is an old revolutionary base area, and a national poverty-stricken county. Before poverty alleviation, the problem of rural hollowing out was serious. The rural resident population accounted for only 47% of the total agricultural population. The development momentum of Tan sheep, day lily, and other leading industries was insufficient. The new business entities were scattered, weak and small, and the driving effect was not obvious. Since the implementation of the basic strategy of targeted poverty alleviation in 2013, the whole county has been involved in poverty alleviation work. In 2015, it was awarded the advanced collective of the national poverty alleviation system.

Furthermore, the experience of financial poverty alleviation, that is, the "Yanchi model" and "poverty alleviation insurance", were popularized throughout the country. In 2018, it passed the national special assessment and inspection on the withdrawal of poor counties, and became the first county in Ningxia to emerge from poverty. In 2019, it was selected as one of the first "demonstration counties for implementing the Rural Revitalization Strategy" in the autonomous region, and established the China Academy of targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in northwest China, in order to provide intellectual support for the training of professionals in the fields of targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, in agricultural and rural special research, and in local government decision-making. In 2021, Yanchi County was added to the poverty alleviation and rural revitalization regional case summary project of the National Rural Revitalization bureau, to summarize and consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and promote rural revitalization, and to provide case demonstrations for cities, counties, and villages in similar poverty alleviation areas (Figure 4). and "poverty alleviation insurance", were popularized throughout the country. In 2018, it passed the national special assessment and inspection on the withdrawal of poor counties, and became the first county in Ningxia to emerge from poverty. In 2019, it was selected as one of the first "demonstration counties for implementing the Rural Revitalization Strategy" in the autonomous region, and established the China Academy of targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in northwest China, in order to provide intellectual support for the training of professionals in the fields of targeted poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, in agricultural and rural special research, and in local government decision-making. In 2021, Yanchi County was added to the poverty alleviation and rural revitalization regional case summary project of the National Rural Revitalization bureau, to summarize and consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and promote rural revitalization, and to provide case demonstrations for cities, counties, and villages in similar poverty alleviation areas (Figure 4).

effect was not obvious. Since the implementation of the basic strategy of targeted poverty alleviation in 2013, the whole county has been involved in poverty alleviation work. In 2015, it was awarded the advanced collective of the national poverty alleviation system. Furthermore, the experience of financial poverty alleviation, that is, the "Yanchi model"

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**Figure 4.** Poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in Yanchi County. **Figure 4.** Poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in Yanchi County.

#### **4. Results 4. Results**

#### *4.1. Integrated Development Model Driven by the Photovoltaic Industry 4.1. Integrated Development Model Driven by the Photovoltaic Industry*

Changliudun village is located 11 km southwest of Gaoshawo town in the northwest of Yanchi County. It governs three natural villages, with a total population of 265 households and 736 people. Changliudun village has explored the development model of Changliudun village is located 11 km southwest of Gaoshawo town in the northwest of Yanchi County. It governs three natural villages, with a total population of 265 households and 736 people. Changliudun village has explored the development model of "branch + enterprise + farmer households", in order to allow more villagers to find jobs and increase their income. It has also actively connected with photovoltaic enterprises, organized

idle labor to work in the photovoltaic park nearby, which has been exporting more than 200 laborers to the photovoltaic park every year (with 12 fixed employees), and increased the per capita income by about CNY 4000. Relying on the photovoltaic industry, the village has an area of 953 hm<sup>2</sup> , with a transfer fee of more than CNY 50 million, benefiting 250 people in 89 households, with a per capita income of about CNY 200,000. A centralized photovoltaic poverty alleviation village-level power station has been built, with a power generation scale of 3 MW, and an average annual power generation of 4.2 million kWh; it increased the village's average collective annual income by CNY 220,000 for 20 years, to effectively transform it from "blood transfusion" poverty alleviation to "hematopoietic" poverty alleviation. with a power generation scale of 3 MW, and an average annual power generation of 4.2 million kWh; it increased the village's average collective annual income by CNY 220,000 for 20 years, to effectively transform it from "blood transfusion" poverty alleviation to "hematopoietic" poverty alleviation. In addition, efforts have been made to explore the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism, as well as raise sheep under photovoltaic panels, in order to develop the collective economy and broaden the channels for the villagers to become wealthier. Firstly, the village explored the development of a tertiary industry dominated by

"branch + enterprise + farmer households", in order to allow more villagers to find jobs and increase their income. It has also actively connected with photovoltaic enterprises, organized idle labor to work in the photovoltaic park nearby, which has been exporting more than 200 laborers to the photovoltaic park every year (with 12 fixed employees), and increased the per capita income by about CNY 4000. Relying on the photovoltaic industry,

benefiting 250 people in 89 households, with a per capita income of about CNY 200,000. A centralized photovoltaic poverty alleviation village-level power station has been built,

, with a transfer fee of more than CNY 50 million,

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the village has an area of 953 hm<sup>2</sup>

In addition, efforts have been made to explore the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism, as well as raise sheep under photovoltaic panels, in order to develop the collective economy and broaden the channels for the villagers to become wealthier. Firstly, the village explored the development of a tertiary industry dominated by photovoltaic tourism, and developed photovoltaic popular science tourism and rural experience tourism; it also built tourism supporting facilities, such as a cultural stage, folk culture corridor, and tourist experience mill, in order to guide farmers to develop farmhouse entertainment and create high-quality home stays. The next step is to develop photovoltaic science popularization tourism and rural experience tourism; integrate tourism, science popularization, experience, and entertainment into cultural tourism elements; and comprehensively develop "food, housing, transportation, travel, shopping and entertainment". Secondly, the village gives full play to the guiding role of breeding cooperatives, forage processing plants, and leaders in becoming wealthy; it improved the model of "power generation on the board and sheep raising under the board". The village continuously expanded the scale of high-quality forage and small grains, and promoted the formation of Tan sheep forage. The ultimate goal is to promote large-scale and specialized breeding, in order to form an "integrated production and marketing" business model, and to expand the employment space of farmers (Figure 5). photovoltaic tourism, and developed photovoltaic popular science tourism and rural experience tourism; it also built tourism supporting facilities, such as a cultural stage, folk culture corridor, and tourist experience mill, in order to guide farmers to develop farmhouse entertainment and create high-quality home stays. The next step is to develop photovoltaic science popularization tourism and rural experience tourism; integrate tourism, science popularization, experience, and entertainment into cultural tourism elements; and comprehensively develop "food, housing, transportation, travel, shopping and entertainment". Secondly, the village gives full play to the guiding role of breeding cooperatives, forage processing plants, and leaders in becoming wealthy; it improved the model of "power generation on the board and sheep raising under the board". The village continuously expanded the scale of high-quality forage and small grains, and promoted the formation of Tan sheep forage. The ultimate goal is to promote large-scale and specialized breeding, in order to form an "integrated production and marketing" business model, and to expand the employment space of farmers (Figure 5).

**Figure 5.** The photovoltaic industry drives integrated development mode in Changliudun village. **Figure 5.** The photovoltaic industry drives integrated development mode in Changliudun village.

#### *4.2. Efficient Utilization of Water Resources and Integrated Development Model of Grass and Livestock*

*4.2. Efficient Utilization of Water Resources and Integrated Development Model of Grass and Livestock* The total amount of water resources in Yanchi County is 73 million m<sup>3</sup> . The per capita The total amount of water resources in Yanchi County is 73 million m<sup>3</sup> . The per capita water resources are less than one-fifth of the national average, and less than one-third of Ningxia's average. The development of agriculture and animal husbandry is restricted

water resources are less than one-fifth of the national average, and less than one-third of

by water resources. The Tan sheep industry is a key to poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in Yanchi County. With the continuous increase in Tan sheep, it is facing problems with high-quality forage and standard production [28]. Ma'erzhuang village in Fengjigou town is located in the transition zone between Maowusu sandy land and Loess Plateau. It is dry and rainy, and the traditional planting industry depends on the elements. Tan sheep breeding is the main source of income for farmers. The industry is vulnerable to feed cost increases and fluctuations in mutton market prices. Farmers are faced with the dual problem of unstable income and poor natural environment (Figure 6). revitalization in Yanchi County. With the continuous increase in Tan sheep, it is facing problems with high-quality forage and standard production [28]. Ma'erzhuang village in Fengjigou town is located in the transition zone between Maowusu sandy land and Loess Plateau. It is dry and rainy, and the traditional planting industry depends on the elements. Tan sheep breeding is the main source of income for farmers. The industry is vulnerable to feed cost increases and fluctuations in mutton market prices. Farmers are faced with the dual problem of unstable income and poor natural environment (Figure 6).

water resources. The Tan sheep industry is a key to poverty alleviation and rural

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**Figure 6.** Efficient utilization of water resources and integrated development mode in Ma'erzhuang. **Figure 6.** Efficient utilization of water resources and integrated development mode in Ma'erzhuang.

Since 2017, Ma'erzhuang village has transformed and improved its field facilities, agronomic production, and agricultural management through a comprehensive agricultural development project. Integrating all kinds of agriculture and water-related funds of CNY 27.72 million, the irrigation system of the 10,700 Mu irrigation area in the village has been transformed and upgraded, water pipelines and drip irrigation belts have been laid, water- and fertilizer-integrated irrigation systems as well as an automatic irrigation control center have been built. Through the full coverage of drip irrigation in the village, water, fertilizer, labor, and machinery costs have been reduced, and the planting area and output of corn have increased. In addition, Ma'erzhuang established a high-efficiency water-saving irrigation professional cooperative; established irrigation, water fee collection, unit operation, and other systems; and provided socialized services to farmers through unified cultivation, sowing, procurement, irrigation, fertilization, loss prevention, and the harvesting of corn, as well as water right distribution and water price Since 2017, Ma'erzhuang village has transformed and improved its field facilities, agronomic production, and agricultural management through a comprehensive agricultural development project. Integrating all kinds of agriculture and water-related funds of CNY 27.72 million, the irrigation system of the 10,700 Mu irrigation area in the village has been transformed and upgraded, water pipelines and drip irrigation belts have been laid, water- and fertilizer-integrated irrigation systems as well as an automatic irrigation control center have been built. Through the full coverage of drip irrigation in the village, water, fertilizer, labor, and machinery costs have been reduced, and the planting area and output of corn have increased. In addition, Ma'erzhuang established a high-efficiency water-saving irrigation professional cooperative; established irrigation, water fee collection, unit operation, and other systems; and provided socialized services to farmers through unified cultivation, sowing, procurement, irrigation, fertilization, loss prevention, and the harvesting of corn, as well as water right distribution and water price innovation and reform. This has gradually formed a forage processing plant, a corn silage trusteeship planting base, and a Tan sheep ecological pasture planting, which promote the integrated development of the grass and livestock industry, and increase farmers' income.

innovation and reform. This has gradually formed a forage processing plant, a corn silage trusteeship planting base, and a Tan sheep ecological pasture planting, which promote the integrated development of the grass and livestock industry, and increase farmers' income. In 2020, the disposable income of farmers in the whole village reached CNY 14,900, an increase of CNY 4850 over that in 2017; the collective income of the village reached CNY 1 million. The efficient utilization of water resources and the integrated development In 2020, the disposable income of farmers in the whole village reached CNY 14,900, an increase of CNY 4850 over that in 2017; the collective income of the village reached CNY 1 million. The efficient utilization of water resources and the integrated development mode of grass and livestock in Ma'erzhuang village not only effectively solved the problems of forage shortage and the short industrial chain faced by the development of the Tan sheep industry, but it also effectively avoided the ecological risk faced by the development of the grass and livestock industry in arid areas, and effectively ensured the connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

mode of grass and livestock in Ma'erzhuang village not only effectively solved the problems of forage shortage and the short industrial chain faced by the development of

*4.3. Grid Management and Organizational Revitalization Mode*

connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

#### *4.3. Grid Management and Organizational Revitalization Mode* scattered farm households, Yanchi County implemented a four-level grid management

*Land* **2022**, *11*, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 14

Grassroots governance is the foundation of national governance, and is key to meeting the vital needs of villagers. Based on actual characteristics of large areas and scattered farm households, Yanchi County implemented a four-level grid management mechanism of "county, township, village, and group", in order to comprehensively improve the level of grassroots governance. It also implemented effective monitoring and precise assistance to prevent poverty from returning, by providing a strong support mechanism guarantee for the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. In order to prevent a return to poverty, and to fully implement the rural revitalization strategy in Wanjigou village in Huamachi town, on the basis of original poverty alleviation teams, the village created the "party construction + four-level grid" management mode by implementing such measures as the first secretary, the village working team, and helping cadres and grassroots teams, such as village cadres, villagers' representatives, and group leaders (Figure 7). These measures effectively connected the teams. Among them, the leader of Baocun village acts as the commander to coordinate local governance of the village. The village Party Secretary and the first secretary stationed in the village serve as deputy commanders, and assist the commander to do a good job of overseeing the grid. The first secretary, village cadre, and full-time network member stationed in the village, serve as the grid head; meanwhile, village cadres, team members stationed in the village, members of the village Supervision Committee, and villagers' representatives, serve as grid members who comprehensively check the basic information of residents in the grid. mechanism of "county, township, village, and group", in order to comprehensively improve the level of grassroots governance. It also implemented effective monitoring and precise assistance to prevent poverty from returning, by providing a strong support mechanism guarantee for the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. In order to prevent a return to poverty, and to fully implement the rural revitalization strategy in Wanjigou village in Huamachi town, on the basis of original poverty alleviation teams, the village created the "party construction + four-level grid" management mode by implementing such measures as the first secretary, the village working team, and helping cadres and grassroots teams, such as village cadres, villagers' representatives, and group leaders (Figure 7). These measures effectively connected the teams. Among them, the leader of Baocun village acts as the commander to coordinate local governance of the village. The village Party Secretary and the first secretary stationed in the village serve as deputy commanders, and assist the commander to do a good job of overseeing the grid. The first secretary, village cadre, and full-time network member stationed in the village, serve as the grid head; meanwhile, village cadres, team members stationed in the village, members of the village Supervision Committee, and villagers' representatives, serve as grid members who comprehensively check the basic information of residents in the grid.

Grassroots governance is the foundation of national governance, and is key to meeting the vital needs of villagers. Based on actual characteristics of large areas and

**Figure 7.** Grid management and organizational revitalization in Wanjigou village. **Figure 7.** Grid management and organizational revitalization in Wanjigou village.

According to the principle of "moderate population scale, convenient service management and effective resource allocation", as well as "the relationship between kinship, geopolitics and industry", rural households in Anhui Province are divided into 17 basic grids based on the registered residence of natural villages. The work of grid members not only includes the monitoring of farmers' family incomes and poverty return risks, but also the development of poverty alleviation industries related to rural revitalization, the improvement of human settlements and sanitation, comprehensive social management, folkway construction and migration, rural cultural activities, talent skill training, and realizing the effective connections of work contents (Figure 7). The main advantages of the grid management system are as follows: (1) realizing dynamic monitoring and effectively preventing a return to poverty, which provides a strong guarantee for consolidating the results of poverty alleviation; (2) reducing the burden of grassroots cadres, and focusing on rural party construction and industrial development; (3) reducing the costs of farmers' affairs, efficiently serving the various demands of According to the principle of "moderate population scale, convenient service management and effective resource allocation", as well as "the relationship between kinship, geopolitics and industry", rural households in Anhui Province are divided into 17 basic grids based on the registered residence of natural villages. The work of grid members not only includes the monitoring of farmers' family incomes and poverty return risks, but also the development of poverty alleviation industries related to rural revitalization, the improvement of human settlements and sanitation, comprehensive social management, folkway construction and migration, rural cultural activities, talent skill training, and realizing the effective connections of work contents (Figure 7). The main advantages of the grid management system are as follows: (1) realizing dynamic monitoring and effectively preventing a return to poverty, which provides a strong guarantee for consolidating the results of poverty alleviation; (2) reducing the burden of grassroots cadres, and focusing on rural party construction and industrial development; (3) reducing the costs of farmers' affairs, efficiently serving the various demands of farmers, and providing strong support for effective rural governance; (4) establishing a training mechanism for village-level grassroots reserve cadres, which provide a team guarantee for the revitalization of rural organizations.

farmers, and providing strong support for effective rural governance; (4) establishing a training mechanism for village-level grassroots reserve cadres, which provide a team

#### **5. Summary and Implications**

#### *5.1. General Law of Rural Revitalization in Arid Areas*

During the transition period, the core work of poverty alleviation is to consolidate and expand the effective connection between achieving poverty alleviation and rural revitalization; the two have inherent consistency and logical continuity [29]. Whether in terms of development planning, working mechanisms and policy guarantees, or in terms of major measures, assistance mechanisms and industrial advantages [30], the effective connection is still inseparable from the continuity that is driven by external markets and rural elites [31], and from the continuity of the convergence of poverty alleviation achievements, regional strategies, and policy objects. According to the reality of poverty alleviation in rural areas, it is necessary to embed administrative forces, strengthen the driving of villagers and market linkage, better identify the track, and make good use of the situation, in a timely manner.

Furthermore, continuous innovations are made in the mechanisms of element integration, power activation, and goal guidance. For example, in the element integration mechanism, with green as the background, the realization path of green development is innovated and integrated with modern elements [7], in order to develop modern organic green low-carbon industries. It is necessary to build a reserve fund for "green rights", to build a deep processing platform, improve the quality of agricultural products, increase employment opportunities, and improve farmers' incomes [32]. It is also necessary to cultivate green-collar workers, decision makers, practitioners, and managers, who are engaged in the modern agriculture and green industry, to lay the organizational foundation for rural revitalization.

Protecting the living environment in arid areas, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and achieving regional sustainable development, are important policies for consolidating poverty alleviation achievements and promoting rural revitalization in the new era. It is necessary to adhere to the path of comprehensive and green development, develop conservation-oriented agriculture, circular agriculture and ecological agriculture, according to the requirements of high-quality construction, strengthening ecological environment protection, combining the consolidation of poverty alleviation achievements with environmental governance and ecological protection, and avoiding the vicious circle of "poverty-ecological environment destruction-natural disasters-poverty" [33]. Green rights and interests must be protected, and organization and responsibility are required for the acquisition. As a bridge that connects farmers and the agricultural product market, and ensures the sale of agricultural products, green rights and interests will be important to strengthen the green industry through ecological compensation, and make ecological industrialization a fashionable concept. The three mechanisms are modern factor upgrading, development power activation, and strategic goal guidance [34]. Based on original industrial development, giving full play to the organization, finances, and technology, and continuously promoting industrial transformation and upgrading, are also fundamental guarantees for consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization [35]. A follow-up study will refine the reasons that led to this development, based on natural and human resources, trade, etc., which is a unique and feasible perspective.

#### *5.2. Policy and Practical Implications of Rural Green Development for Arid Areas*

China is currently in an important period of consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. In order to better enhance rural revitalization and development, it needs to promote the integration of characteristic and advantageous industries, in addition to tourism culture [36,37]. It is necessary to develop the tourism economy of characteristic industries, expand the development of characteristic industrial chains, build characteristic industrial belts, activate industrial resources, create rural cultural tourism products with high participation and strong experience, and promote the integration of the advantages of industrial resource and cultural tourism [38,39]. China has a vast territory, with diverse natural geography, obvious differences in resource

endowment and social economy, and different levels of rural development [40]. We should innovate development ideas, interact with each other, from top to bottom, and make reasonable plans, develop leading industries, and strive to achieve large-scale integration and standardization on the basis of the meteorological, hydrological, topographic, and other resources available; this should be combined with the reality of industrial development and regional policies. Moreover, it is necessary to pay attention to the subjectivity of farmers. Poverty alleviation is focused on assisting a poverty-stricken population under the current standard, whereas rural revitalization pays more attention to issues, such as poverty-stricken populations no longer returning to poverty, and sustaining the livelihood of poverty-stricken farmers [41,42]. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the dominant position of farmers, and focus on empowering farmers, improving their self-development capabilities, giving them the right to participate in rural construction, and assisting them to fully obtain a fair distribution of benefits.

An effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization is inseparable from the agricultural industrial policy. The internal logical framework of the connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization that was proposed in this study still needs the identification framework of the main body of agricultural industrial policy, in order to realize the matching between different agricultural and industrial policies, and the main body of production, operation, and service [43]. In addition, it is necessary to rely on the market mechanism to "find the track" and "make the best use of the situation", in order to promote the integration of regional resources and the improvement in production efficiency. The photovoltaic industry of Yanchi County exerts the scale effect of "photovoltaic + housing renovation", "photovoltaic + tourism", and "photovoltaic + employment, which not only promotes the income of the masses, but also provides a sustainable development path for the collective development of the village [44,45]. In the future, it is necessary to fully mobilize social forces, to strengthen the leading role of social capital such as enterprises, actively practice and explore new models of cooperative development, give full play to multi-party forces and professional and market-oriented platforms, provide technical and talent training support for local development, stimulate new drivers of local development, and to achieve common prosperity.

### **6. Conclusions**

Based on the internal logical framework of the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, taking Yanchi County as a case, the internal connection process of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization was analyzed. The following conclusions are drawn: <sup>1</sup> Yanchi County's photovoltaic industry-driven integrated development model, efficient water resource utilization, grass livestock-integrated development model, grid management and organizational revitalization model, and other cases, support the theoretical and logical analysis of the effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, and provide a typical sample for poverty alleviation villages to consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. <sup>2</sup> During the effective connection period, attention should be paid to the coordinated promotion of the "three paths", namely promoting the integration of characteristic and advantageous industries and tourism culture, innovating the realization path according to local conditions, and focusing on the subjectivity of farmers to broaden the sustainable livelihood path and realize rural development. <sup>3</sup> It is necessary to practice the concept of green development, and to take the path of ecological industrialization by establishing a policy system of green land-people-industry-right, thus building an endogenous growth mechanism of sustainable poverty alleviation and green development in China's northwest arid areas.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, Y.W.; formal analysis, L.Q. and J.W.; writing—original draft, Y.W. and L.Q.; writing—review and editing, Q.L. and Z.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42101202, 42101203, and 42201283), National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Science Foundation of the United States Sustainable Regional System Cooperation Research Project, (No. T221101034), the China postdoctoral Science Foundation Program (No. 2022M710015), the Chongqing Social Science Planning Project (No. 2022ZTYB02), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2022CDJSKJC29).

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Acknowledgments:** The insightful and constructive comments and suggestions from anonymous reviewers were greatly appreciated.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
