This undated photo shows vegetables growing in greenhouses equipped with hydroponic technology in Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]
East China's Shandong province is exploring innovative methods to boost its rural economy as part of its rural vitalization efforts.
The city of Heze, Juancheng county — which administers two sub-districts and 15 towns — is winning accolades for its methods of encouraging new agricultural entities to cultivate on the Yellow River beach plains, promote the honeysuckle industry and vigorously develop distinctive vegetables to increase farmers' income.
Zang Guangjun, head of Shandong Xianxi Pharmaceutical Co in Xingtun village under
Dongkou town, is proud of the smooth expansion of his enterprise.
Earlier, the town has been focusing on creating a honeysuckle planting area involving the villagers of Xingtun and Tongtang, with a total area of over 4,000 mu (267 hectares). This initiative has provided jobs for some 1,100 people and increased farmers' income by over 12 million yuan ($1.69 million).
Zang said during the harvest season, the fields are filled with a fragrant and refreshing aroma, attracting swarms of visitors to pick the honeysuckle flowers, creating a beautiful and spectacular scenery in Juancheng.
He added that his business is expanding steadily.
As a farming area, Juancheng has a total of over 65,884.35 hectares of cultivated land, with over 12,967.3 hectares of plantation land in addition to 6,678.48 hectares of forested land.
To further develop its distinctive vegetable industry, Dongkou town has adopted a "Party branch + cooperatives + farmers" approach to lure investment.
Various seasonal vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, edamame and okra, are being grown and exported to countries like South Korea and Japan.
A vegetable planting area spanning 700 hectares has emerged in Houyuan and Jinzhuang villages, attracting a large number of farmers from the surrounding areas to come and work, and increasing their income by over 12 million yuan.
In addition, Dongkou town has collaborated with State-owned enterprises like Shandong Agricultural Development Group and Shandong Provincial Supply and Marketing Cooperative to cultivate land in beach areas along the Yellow River, upgrading local farmers' cultivation skills.
Currently, more than 800 hectares of land across four villages are being cultivated, with each village earning a profit of over 100,000 yuan from the contract.
By planting crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans on a large scale, the strength of the collective economy has been boosted while the nearby farmers can work in agricultural enterprises to become new types of farmers in the Yellow River beach area.
Zang noted that through bold experimentation and innovation, the town's agriculture has flourished, local farmers have become wealthier, and rural areas have transformed into more beautiful and prosperous communities.
