Rural vitalization has been a top priority for the Chinese government in recent years. In one northeastern town, authorities are encouraging and helping young people to start their own businesses.
More and more young people in townships and villages are working for themselves, selling produce from their home towns. And many of them have been successful.
TANT QIANG Rural Entrepreneur Zhuanghe City, Dalian "I studied photography and took wedding photos for a while. In 2017, the local authorities started to organize blueberry festivals and encourage entrepreneurship. I was optimistic about the business, so I contracted land to build greenhouses."
Tang has been proven right, by his growing business. He started with five greenhouses, now he has 12, and he's considering to expand.
TANT QIANG Rural Entrepreneur Zhuanghe City, Dalian "I made about 300,000 yuan a year when there were five greenhouses, then over one million yuan after I added four more. It will be more this year as I expanded to 12 greenhouses."
Zhuanghe's geographical location has contributed to the high quality of its blueberries. But finding and expanding markets also relies on the support and promotion of the local government.
DAI QIANG Secretary of the Party Committee of Daying Town Zhuanghe City, Dalian "After ten years of development, blueberry cultivation has grown from about 200 hectares to about 650 hectares now. We support entrepreneurs in various aspects such as land transfer and capital policy, which has formed a siphon effect. Some people who had worked in urban areas saw that the blueberries from their hometown were selling well, and they came back to start their own businesses."
Dai said local fruits were once hit by competition from the south, where farmers offered lower prices. And the vendors here needed to find a way out. Today, blueberries have become a mainstay of local income and attracted the return of talent. CGTN, Dalian, Liaoning Province.
15/03/2022
