Herb Brother Returns Home to Start a Business: Company + Farmer Model Enriches Fellow Villagers

"Trichosanthes kirilowii root is a traditional Chinese medicine with high economic value. Last year, under the guidance of 'Herb Brother,' I planted over 2 mu, and this year I plan to plant several more mu," Zhang Changchun, a villager from Mazhuang Village, Nanhe County, Hebei Province, recently told this writer.

"Herb Brother" is what the villagers of Mazhuang Village in Nanhe County call Dong Qian. Dong Qian, 31 years old this year, graduated from Yanshan University in Qinhuangdao with a degree in international trade. After graduation, driven by his love for his hometown, he returned home to start a business. After 8 years of painstaking effort, he built a 10,000-mu traditional Chinese medicine base, which has become a key characteristic planting zone for Nanhe County's development and has also been included in the county's three-year outline for industrial structure optimization and upgrading.

Back then, he had leaped over the "dragon gate," yet returned to his hometown to farm. At the time, many fellow villagers could not understand his actions. Facing their gossip, Dong Qian remained calm. "The countryside is actually a place of great opportunity. Agriculture today is no longer just facing the yellow earth with your back to the sky. As long as you work steadily, you can certainly carve out a place for yourself," Dong Qian said.

Since he chose to return home to start a business, how did he choose his direction? As a child, Dong Qian often traveled across the country with his father, who was in the medicinal herb business. By his teens, he had developed a deep understanding of what herbs grew where and their quality. By chance, when he saw wild Trichosanthes kirilowii root in a field, he was very excited. This traditional Chinese medicine has the effects of clearing heat and purging fire, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, and discharging pus and reducing swelling, and it has high economic value. So he went specifically to a Chinese herbal medicine planting base in Anguo City to learn cultivation techniques.

Starting a business is always difficult. After learning cultivation techniques, Dong Qian rented 30 mu of farmland for planting. In the first year, the survival rate of what he planted was pitifully low, and the Trichosanthes kirilowii root harvested was also very little. In the second year, because he did not understand pest and disease prevention techniques, he discovered at harvest time that almost all the Trichosanthes kirilowii root had been eaten by parasites. Two consecutive years of failure did not crush Dong Qian. With a stubborn streak, he endured. In the third year, he invited Chinese medicinal herb experts from Nanjing Agricultural University to solve planting problems on site, and also improved planting methods and techniques through experiments. That year he succeeded, and the per-mu yield of Trichosanthes kirilowii root reached about 250 kg.

Dong Qian excitedly told this writer that after 8 years of painstaking operation, his Zhilan Chinese Medicinal Herb Planting Base has become a relatively large Trichosanthes kirilowii root planting base in China. Last year, it was awarded the title of "Trichosanthes kirilowii root GAP Certified Base" by the State Food and Drug Administration.

Now famous, Dong Qian is not satisfied. He told this writer that his dream is to turn this family business into a common undertaking for fellow villagers, into a major characteristic industry of his hometown, and to lead fellow villagers to prosperity together. To realize this dream, Dong Qian devised a "company + base + farmer" production model, providing free technical services to farmers growing Chinese medicinal herbs in Nanhe County and surrounding counties, and purchasing their products year-round. In this way, farmers can plant with confidence and steadily increase their income. In addition, he established a cooperative farmer poverty alleviation development fund, signing special agreements with impoverished households, households enjoying the five guarantees, and other disadvantaged groups, helping them escape poverty sooner or improve their lives through targeted assistance. At present, more than 600 farming households have joined Dong Qian's "company + base + farmer" production model. His company provides an average of over 10,000 temporary jobs each year, indirectly driving employment for thousands of households.

Grower Liu Dacheng told this writer that under Dong Qian's leadership, villagers have all begun planting Chinese medicinal herbs, and they no longer need to worry about sales.

After several years of development, Dong Qian has led more than 800 surrounding farming households to grow medicinal herbs, forming a Chinese medicinal herb planting base of over 10,000 mu. He signed a cooperation agreement with Guangzhou Baiyunshan Zhongyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to jointly build China's first large-scale, standardized Trichosanthes kirilowii root planting base, which passed national GAP certification in 2014.

"As farmers in a new era, we must keep learning and try various business methods. Next, I am also preparing to launch online sales and strengthen myself with the power of 'Internet Plus.' By then, I will work hard to take my brand abroad," Dong Qian said.