At 85, when many people have long since retired, Zhao Yafu, a recipient of the July 1 Medal and a renowned agricultural expert, still works in the rice fields of Daizhuang Village in east China's Jiangsu Province.

Since graduating from college in 1961, Zhao has spent more than six decades helping farmers improve agricultural production and increase their incomes. Even after retiring in 2001, he chose to remain in the countryside, introducing sustainable farming practices that transformed Daizhuang Village, once a relatively remote village in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province.

Over the past two decades, the village has adopted eco-friendly farming methods that restored local biodiversity while improving the quality and value of its agricultural products. Residents' annual per capita income has grown from less than 3,000 yuan (about $442) to more than 47,000 yuan (about $6,920).

Today, Zhao continues to mentor young agricultural professionals, believing that the best achievements are not written on paper, but on the land that feeds the people.