BEIJING, March 29 -- The first group of about 200 farmers who lost their homes in the major earthquake last year moved to Qionglai City in southwestern Sichuan Province Friday. The new farms are 400 kilometers from their hometown, Qingchuan County.

    Soundbite: Liu Qi, vice secretary of the party committee of Guanzhuang Village, Qingchuan County in Sichuan Province "After the earthquake, the land was destroyed and the houses were gone. The village can no longer sustain life and production."

    The country government organized inspection trips for the farmers before they moved. The settlers will enjoy preferential policies for farmers and quake survivors. The farmers were sad to leave their hometown but have embraced the future with confidence and hope.

    Soundbite: Wang Tianlin, from Guangzhuang Village, Qingchuan County. "We are told that there are tea trees and forests in the mountain. We can support ourselves if that's true."

    Soundbite: Wen Yan, from Guangzhuang Village, Qingchuan County. "The place will seem strange at first, but it's a new start. We will get used to it and make new friends."

    Thousands of farmers lost their homes and land in the May 12 earthquake. According to government plans, they will be relocated nearby and move into permanent dwellings before October.

    Xinhua news agency correspondents reporting from Sichuan.