In May, 44-year-old Wang Fang, a farmer from southwest China’s Sichuan Province, acquired roughly three hectares of farmland in her home village in the Jinqiao township of Chengdu. She grows strawberries and is currently reaping a bumper crop.

“Around ten years ago, we relied on traditional labor and intensive agriculture for a living. I could see that there was no room for development in this, so I chose to open a small business in town. Now that modern-style agriculture is bringing more economic benefits, I decided to seek opportunities back home,” Wang told CGTN.

Wang said these strawberries, all cultivated in a greenhouse, can bring in about 300,000 US dollars annually. During the harvest season, she employs about 60 villagers. Each of them can earn around 475 US dollars per month.

“It’s a lot better than before," said Luo Chengying, a local villager. "Planting crops the old way was laborious, and I could earn very little money. Now I can get a percentage of money from the farmland transfer every year and get a job at nearby orchards easily. With our flexible working conditions, I can also look after my family. It’s really great.” 

In recent years, Jinqiao has  attracted a growing number of investors from other towns, keen to cash in on the growing number of opportunities. The town is also attracting tourists, who are interested in the modern methods that they are using to cultivate fruit as well as the beautiful peach blossoms that come to life during spring. The local government is encouraging residents to seize these new opportunities too.

Chen Yanglin, head of the Jinqiao Township, told CGTN that rural revitalization means that all villagers have the opportunity to get rich. He took a peach farm, as an example to illustrate how local farmers can get involved in the development.

“The farm is owned by a doctor of agricultural science, but local farmers can run related businesses here. In this way, different people can benefit from the same land,” said Chen. Now, restaurants, tea houses and recreational facilities have been set up in the area to attract more visitors.

Chen added that they are now working to develop rural tourism by bringing in more talent, and hope to involve local farmers in this too.

In recent years the central government underscored its “people-centered” development philosophy, which focuses on working towards a prosperous society for everyone, highlighting the importance of the farming community as a driving force in the country’s development. 

Wang said she is grateful for these policies  and the financial support that the government has provided. And although her farming business faces many challenges ahead, she is confident in its success. She now hopes that more villagers will join her in tapping into the potential of their hometown, and says she’d love to share her experience and knowledge with them.