Program plants a seed of agricultural interest in urban areas

In the eyes of Cen Yue, Party secretary of Niuchang Bouyei ethnic township which administers Wayao village, the village boasts advantages in location and environment, but scattered farmland and an aging population have hampered local development.

"To develop agriculture, we must focus on solving the following issues－who will farm, what to plant, and how to manage the farmland," says Cen.

The farmland adoption program targets these problems. Visitors from the cities have brought back a long-lost boisterous ambiance to the village, especially on weekends and holidays.

Luo Xiaogang is among the first group of farmland adopters. For the doctor working in Guiyang for over 20 years, village life in Wayao is refreshing and rewarding.

"I often come here with my family to take care of my field and have learned how to transplant rice seedlings. We feel so relaxed being close to nature," he says, adding that he has also tried some newly developed rural recreations in the village, such as fishing, camping and picking berries.

According to Cen, local authorities are pooling their wisdom to further improve people's experience in the adoption program, so as to attract more participants and draw investment for further local development.

Luo says the program is not a one-way charity, but yields mutual benefits for rural and urban participants.

"The program is quite meaningful for bolstering rural vitalization," he says. "I will introduce it to my colleagues and I believe they will be interested in joining in."