He earned 40,000 yuan last year, but less than 10,000 yuan five years ago.

"(It was) just enough to survive," he said.

However, in recent years he has had to pay more than 42,000 yuan annually for healthcare and his daughter's schooling.

Xu has been conscientious about the yield and value of his potatoes since President Xi Jinping visited his home this year and calculated the overheads and profits with him.

He estimates he can bring in 100,000 yuan this year.

Wang Xianyu's family faces a similar situation.

"We spend our income on medical treatments," the 72-year-old said.

His household received roughly 5,000 yuan from the government, and by leasing about a hectare of land to other villagers last year. But they needed 10,000 yuan for healthcare.

"I used to raise sheep and cows, and plant crops," Wang said. "I can't anymore."

He and his 63-year-old wife, Ma Youling, have about 10 medical conditions in total, including diabetes, high blood pressure and minor strokes.

They have a son and daughter who have left to become migrant workers. Their daughter is unemployed.

"Their absence makes our poverty serious," Wang said.

"We don't have any relatives in the village to support us. Before we got sick we earned enough to escape poverty."

They expressed the hope that the money from the solar panels will improve their situation.

Technology and innovation are changing lives in Desheng by turning the bad weather that previously challenged people's livelihoods into a source of income.

The villagers are producing clean energy and organic vegetables for the outside world by using agricultural technology to harvest prosperity and solar power to generate a brighter future.

Zhang Yu contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at erik_nilsson@chinadaily.com.cn