Young farmers rejuvenate agriculture

"We generally have a broader horizon, team spirit, and most important, great expectations for the future of villages and farming," said Li, who established the Young Famer's Association in Yangliang.

Li obtained an architectural engineering degree from a university in Beijing, and worked in coastal Guangdong province for a few years before returning to his hometown in 2014.

Li and several other young people in the village set up the association in August last year, mainly to spot new business opportunities and support each other.

Hao Weifang, who gave up his urban life due to health reasons, is a member of the association."I had a big learning curve when I first started selling agricultural products," said Hao, a former hotel manager. "The association members helped me find the right way to package and market my produce."

Hao ended up opening both online and physical stores to sell selenium-rich rice, which is considered healthier and fetches a premium price, about five times more than that of regular rice.

With the rapid growth of disposable personal incomes, more Chinese consumers prefer premium products with superior quality, and are increasingly willing to spend money on them, according to a recent survey done by data analytics firm Nielsen.

For Hao, that means marketing has become even more important. "Farmers can always grow more. The problem is whether they can sell them," he said. "And in marketing, young farmers have advantages."

With more college graduates joining, the association now has over 60 members.

"The young farmers are setting an example for traditional farmers. They help create jobs and help other traditional farmers become wealthier," said Wu Jianlin, head of the agricultural and rural affairs office in Jinzhong.

The local government offers subsidies for young farmers who return home to start a business. In Li's case, he received around 200,000 yuan ($28,200) in subsidies.

Li said he plans to make his tropical garden a base for science popularization by organizing school field trips to his gardens and helping children learn more about agriculture and nature.

"Now I spend most of my days in the orchard," Li said."I think I have become more assured about what I want than back in the city."

Xinhua