Han Guofeng: A Story Played Out in a Vegetable Greenhouse

    Han Guofeng, a contracted farmer of Company 18 of the 148th Regiment of the Eighth Division, spotted the business opportunity in growing vegetables in greenhouses. Through his own relentless study and hard work, and relying on vegetable greenhouses, he staged a "guide to getting rich."  

    In 1996, 25-year-old Han Guofeng came alone from Henan to Company 18 of the 148th Regiment and contracted land. In the first few years after arriving, because he did not understand farming techniques, his income was very low. Once, he went to visit a fellow townsman in Shihezi. The fellow townsman's family grew several mu of greenhouse vegetables, so he helped him pick and plant vegetables every day. When he was leaving, the fellow townsman told him: "Growing vegetables in greenhouses is profitable, not very risky, and the price is high too. If you want to grow greenhouse vegetables, I'll help you." These words suddenly made Han Guofeng see the business opportunity. Why not give it a try?  

    No sooner said than done. As soon as he got home, Han Guofeng began building a greenhouse. Borrowing from here and there, the materials for building it were basically scrap and used items. With the joint efforts of the whole family, the first greenhouse was built. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables were planted in a colorful variety. When the accounts were settled at the end of the year, hey, he had actually earned more than 1,000 yuan. Han Guofeng, who had tasted the sweetness of success, was delighted: "Growing vegetables in greenhouses can make money, so from now on I'll do this."  

    At the end of 2005, Han Guofeng took out all his family's savings and built 4 new greenhouses. He also bought technical discs from a bookstore on the cultivation and management of greenhouse vegetables and on disease and pest control. Through study, he gradually mastered the methods of growing vegetables. Bit by bit, like rolling a snowball, the greenhouses increased from 4 to 8, covering more than 5 mu, and Han Guofeng's income also rose from the first few thousand yuan to 40,000 to 50,000 yuan per year.  

    Growing vegetables in greenhouses is very hard work. When Han Guofeng grows greenhouse vegetables, selling them is his busiest time. He gets up at 6 in the morning, picks the vegetables, loads them onto the vehicle, and transports them to the market to sell, running 50 or 60 kilometers every day. In the winter of 2006, Han Guofeng began trying to grow vegetable seedlings. Outside it was freezing cold, and other workers in the company were playing cards and strolling around, while Han Guofeng and his wife stayed in the seedling greenhouse, tending the seedlings and studying them. Through the couple's efforts, they finally mastered the cultivation techniques for vegetable seedlings, and a happy smile bloomed on their faces.   

  Nowadays, Han Guofeng's vegetable greenhouses are the largest in scale and the most profitable in the 148th Regiment. Han Guofeng's vegetables have already made a name for themselves at the 148th Regiment Central Farmers' Market, because the vegetables he grows are fresh and taste good, and customers scramble to buy his vegetables.  

    After several years of growing, Han Guofeng also worked out some experience. Every year, according to market demand, he adjusts his vegetable planting to varieties with greater returns and higher economic benefits.  

    In 2007, Han Guofeng was rated by the Eighth Division General Trade Union as a self-operated economy demonstration household, and for three consecutive years he was rated by the regiment farm as an advanced individual in developing courtyard economy. Under Han Guofeng's influence and leadership, by 2009, more than 30 workers of the 148th Regiment had already begun growing greenhouse vegetables.