New techniques used for lotus root cultivation, free-range chickens and goats raised on the slopes
Fei Congwan from Group 1 of Qianfeng Village, Houliu Town, Shiquan County, is busy in the lotus root field. These days are the time for weeding. This year he transferred his 3 mu of land to Xiao You in the form of a shareholding, and he is full of expectations for this year's harvest.
The "Xiao You" Fei Congwan speaks of is You Ziyong. In 2012, You Ziyong graduated from the Department of Bioengineering at Yangling Vocational and Technical College and went to work for a foreign-funded enterprise as a technical manager. During his work there, he successively went to Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and other countries and regions to learn advanced agricultural techniques. In 2014, he quit his job and took the lead in establishing the Xunyi County Xingyuan Four Seasons Apple Professional Cooperative in Xianyang, directly managing more than 1000 mu of orchards, driving cooperative members to increase their income by more than 2 million yuan, and earning the first pot of gold in his life.
People often say, "No matter how far you travel, the water back home is still sweet." As his experience grew, he developed the idea of returning home to start a business. You Ziyong said: "After graduation, I worked in a foreign enterprise selling pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Through this job I learned about the harm pesticides and chemical fertilizers do to the human body. Even soil contaminated by pesticides finds it very hard to produce green, healthy agricultural products. Thinking that the soil back home is very healthy and the natural conditions are good, I wanted to return home and start a business."
He acted as soon as he decided. In 2015, You Ziyong took the initiative to approach the village Party branch, reported his ideas and plans, and held in-depth discussions. After investigation, he learned that the lotus root in Jiangjiapo, Qianfeng Village, was of good quality: eaten fresh, it tasted sweet and fragrant, and when cooked it was easy to stew and quick to become tender. It had long been recognized locally as high-quality lotus root. You Ziyong felt that starting with the cultivation of high-quality lotus root to found his own family farm would have certain market prospects. So he made an agricultural industry plan and registered the "Shiquan County Jiangjiapo Liuyuechun Family Farm." He wanted to start from a "family farm" and realize his entrepreneurial dream step by step.
However, the road to entrepreneurship was not smooth. When word spread that You Ziyong had resigned from a high-paying foreign enterprise and returned home to start a "farm," this traditional family that had farmed for generations was instantly in an uproar. His parents thought their "son had gone crazy."
Yet his parents' opposition did not make You Ziyong shrink back. He moved alone into the simple dormitory the village committee provided for him, devoted himself to studying the plan and putting it into practice. In the first year, he focused on the model of lotus root cultivation combined with livestock and poultry breeding to set up the "farm," transferred more than 30 mu of land, used new techniques to grow lotus root, and also raised free-range chickens and goats.
Hard work pays off. With professional skills plus his perseverance and determination, the family farm was run very successfully. It received awards and support from the county Party committee and county government, and also gained recognition from the villagers. His parents also changed from opposition to support. But the success of the family farm did not make You Ziyong complacent. He wanted to establish his own company and build his own brand. With this idea, You Ziyong once again discussed it with the village Party branch. The village reported his deeds and ideas to the town government and the county housing administration bureau that was paired with it for support, and sought policy support from higher levels. You Ziyong's parents also changed their thinking of seeking stability and fearing disorder, and took out their savings to support their son's undertaking.
With support coming from all sides, You Ziyong gained confidence. In May 2016, he used the available funds to register "Shiquan County Jiangjiapo Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd." After the company was established, many villagers were willing to transfer their land to him; they could not only work at the company but also take care of their families. Tian Luogang, a poor household in Qianfeng Village, said: "Working here, first, I want to learn techniques, and second, in the future I also want to buy shares and get into some kind of industry, striving to shake off poverty as soon as possible."
From a college student to a foreign enterprise manager, and then to returning home to set up a family farm and run an enterprise, You Ziyong could not have done this without the support of the local government and the departments paired with it for poverty alleviation. You Ziyong said: "The local government has created a good entrepreneurial environment for us. Next, our company will collect local specialties, carry out unified packaging and unified sales, and strive to lead local villagers to shake off poverty and become well-off as soon as possible."