Young Man Quits Job to Return Home and Grow Kiwifruit, Yantan Welcomes a New Farmer

Nowadays, when many young people yearn for the exciting world outside, in Daxue Village, Yantan Town, there is a 29-year-old young man named Dai Zhifeng who, after graduating from university, gave up the job he had and chose the path of returning home to start a business.

A few days ago, the reporter came to Daxue Village and, led by Dai Zhifeng, arrived at the high mountain more than 430 m above sea level in the village - the red-fleshed kiwifruit plantation of Yongjia Dilong Farm. Looking out, the mountain was covered with kiwifruit trellises and a few red-fleshed kiwifruits bearing fruit. It is understood that the plantation covers an area of more than 150 mu.

Making a Prompt Decision to Return Home and Grow Red-Fleshed Kiwifruit

Dai Zhifeng told the reporter that after graduating from university, he sold cars in Oubei. Two years ago, he quit his job and returned to his hometown, contracted a large area of land, and became a farmer. "Farming now is the same as starting a business elsewhere; if you farm well, you can also earn a high income," Dai Zhifeng said.

Returning home to start a business was not a sudden whim. Dai Zhifeng said that he often went home as well, and saw that the fields in the village were either abandoned or farmed by elderly people. Young people nowadays all like to stay in the city, and fewer and fewer remain at home.

In 2014, with the support of his family, after making many inquiries and careful consideration, he felt that the newly emerging red-fleshed kiwifruit was a very good business opportunity, so he made a prompt decision and discussed growing red-fleshed kiwifruit with his family. "Red-fleshed kiwifruit is highly nutritious and suitable for all ages."

Dai Zhifeng's mother told the reporter that a few years ago, she and her husband were both doing business elsewhere. After their son wanted to return home to start a business, the two elders also came back, hoping to help with management.

The support of his family was the greatest motivation for Dai Zhifeng to act as soon as he said he would. In 2014, Dai Zhifeng contracted land, put up trellises, and planted red-fleshed kiwifruit trees. To take good care of these kiwifruit trees, he spent almost every day on the mountain. "At the beginning, I was not proficient in growing techniques either. I bought books to read, and also lost some saplings." To make his endeavor bear fruit, Dai Zhifeng sought advice everywhere. "Agricultural development is a long-term process. Without three to five years, you cannot see returns, so the biggest problem is funding," Dai Zhifeng said.

Through Hard Work, a Base of More Than 150 mu Begins to Take Shape

At the base, the reporter saw that although only two years had passed, quite a few red-fleshed kiwifruits had already borne fruit. Dai Zhifeng said that in order to ensure high quality and high yield of the kiwifruit trees the following year, flower and fruit thinning had been carried out on the fruit trees in the early stage, so some kiwifruits had only a few on them, and some had none. Next year the yield should be very good.

Dai Zhifeng told the reporter that because the maturation cycle of kiwifruit is three years, the full-production period does not come until the fourth year. In other words, for the first three years there is only investment and no returns. Dai Zhifeng introduced that so far, the base had invested more than 2 million yuan, and apart from the support of his family, the rest was basically borrowed from relatives and friends.

Because the production base is large in area, for later management he hired local villagers. Villager Teng Shoulin, who is in his 50s this year, told the reporter with a smile that last year he earned more than 30,000 yuan a year at Dai Zhifeng's base. After tasting the benefits, more and more villagers joined in. They felt that farming at home was still farming, but at the base it could instead bring more income. Dai Zhifeng said that labor costs alone amount to more than 200,000 yuan each year.

Through 2 years of hard work, the more than 150 mu red-fleshed kiwifruit base he founded has now begun to take shape. Speaking of future development, Dai Zhifeng told the reporter that after there are returns, he hopes next to encourage villagers to grow kiwifruit together, and he will provide techniques. While increasing income and becoming prosperous together with his fellow villagers, he also wants to extend the industrial chain and develop rural tourism in the village.

Dai Zhifeng said that some time ago Tmall E-commerce Valley Green Agricultural Products came to inspect the base and also signed a cooperation agreement. At that time, the base's green, pollution-free specialty products will be sold through online channels. Netizens only need to scan the QR code to see the entire planting process, the live situation of the base, and so on, buying with confidence and eating with peace of mind!