TAIYUAN, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed the role of daylily growing and processing in helping local people get rid of poverty.

Xi made the remarks while visiting an organic daylily farm in Yunzhou District of Datong City Monday afternoon during an inspection tour in north China's Shanxi Province.

Xi walked into the daylily field and had a cordial conversation with villagers working there.

He was happy to know that in recent years, thanks to the guidance of major enterprises and cooperatives, the farm had a stable output and quality with a guaranteed market and price, helping lift a number of impoverished households out of poverty.

Xi said daylily can develop into a big industry with great prospects.

He stressed efforts to protect and develop the daylily industry and give a full play to its role in poverty alleviation.  ■