Ten people from rural China who make their living from cultivating the land have been honored as the country's "Top Ten Farmers." One you are about to meet has completely revitalized the way he, his family, and some fellow farmers work.

Rice is a major crop in northeast China. It also drives the business of Hong Yunlai, one of the 2019 recipients of the country's Top Ten Farmers award and has been running for about ten years in Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning province.

This year, Hong is looking forward to harvesting the rice on more than 300 hectares of farmland that he rents from farmers.

"I pay rent to farmers and let them help me grow the crop. I either pay them for their management service or buy their rice at good prices. Seeds for crops, labor fees and fees for all production materials are on me," Hong explained.

Since last year, the local government has been promoting raising crabs and crayfish in rice farmland. 

"I want to get higher-quality rice and if they raise crayfish and crabs in rice farmland, they can't use pesticides," said Hong. "Raising crayfish and crabs in rice farmland is more profitable than growing rice alone, which also means higher profit for farmers." 

But the award-winning farmer said but he won't take the profit but will pass it on to the farmers who raise the crustaceans. "This is a win-win situation," he added.

Gao Yanlin, a local farmer who rents his land to Hong and helps him grow crayfish and crab in the farmland, said his income has improved vastly since partnering with Hong.

"My family used to grow one and a half hectares of farmland. We got 20,000 yuan for a whole year," said Gao. "Now I rent my land to him and help him manage the land. Along with the crabs and crayfish, I can earn ten times more." 

The crabs and crayfish raised in the rice farmland serve as organic fertilizer for the crops. Hong's rice now sells at 30 yuan, or 4 dollars per kilo in the market, and is always in wide demand.

This is what the local government believes helped him win the national Top Ten Farmers title.  According to Gao Jingchang, deputy director of Shenbei New District's Agricultural and Rural Bureau in Shenyang city, Hong helped 2,600 households improve their incomes.

"He's contributing to the country's rural revitalization and targeted poverty relief efforts by giving a larger part of the profits to farmers," Gao said.