Dai Zhifeng: A young man from Yantan quits his job and returns home to grow kiwifruit
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, went up to the high mountain in the village at an altitude of more than 430 m——the red-fleshed kiwifruit plantation of Yongjia Dilong Farm. Looking out, the whole mountain was covered with kiwifruit trellises and a few red-fleshed kiwifruit bearing fruit. It is understood that the plantation covers an area of more than 150 mu.
Making a quick decision, returning home to 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 have a high income.” Dai Zhifeng said.
Returning home to start a business was not a sudden whim. Dai Zhifeng said that he also often went home in ordinary times and saw that the fields in the village were either abandoned or cultivated by elderly people. Young people nowadays all like to stay in the city, and fewer and fewer stay 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 quick 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 of them 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 it. In 2014, Dai Zhifeng contracted land, put up supports and planted red-fleshed kiwifruit trees. In order to take good care of these kiwifruit trees, he spent almost every day on the mountain. “At the beginning, I was not proficient in planting techniques either. I bought books to read, and also lost some saplings.” In order to make his business bear fruit, Dai Zhifeng asked for advice everywhere. “Agricultural development is a long-term process. Without three to five years, you will not see returns, so the biggest problem is funding,” Dai Zhifeng said.
Through hard work, the more than 150-mu base has begun to take shape
At the base, the reporter saw that although it had only been two years, quite a few red-fleshed kiwifruit had already borne fruit. Dai Zhifeng said that in order to ensure high quality and high yield of the kiwifruit trees the next year, flower and fruit thinning had been carried out on the fruit trees in the earlier stage, so some kiwifruit had only a few on them, while some had none. By next year, the yield should be very good.
Dai Zhifeng told the reporter that because the maturity cycle of kiwifruit is three years, it only reaches the full-bearing period in the fourth year. In other words, for the first three years there is only investment and no benefit. Dai Zhifeng introduced that up to now, the base has invested more than 2 million yuan, and apart from the support of his family, basically all of the rest was borrowed from relatives and friends.
Because the production base is large in area, in 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 in a year at Dai Zhifeng's base. After tasting the benefits, more and more villagers participated. They felt that farming at home was also farming, while at the base it could instead bring more income. Dai Zhifeng said that each year the cost of labor alone is more than 200,000 yuan.
Through 2 years of hard work, the more than 150-mu red-fleshed kiwifruit base he founded has now begun to take shape. Talking about future development, Dai Zhifeng told the reporter that after there are benefits, he hopes next to lead the villagers to grow kiwifruit together, and he will provide the techniques. While increasing income and becoming prosperous together with the elders and fellow villagers, he will also extend the industrial chain and develop rural tourism in the village.
Dai Zhifeng said that some time ago Tmall e-commerce Gu Lvnongpin 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 whole planting process, the actual situation of the base, and so on, buying with confidence and eating with peace of mind!