IN Boyunling Village, Central China’s Henan Province, Liu Pingzhou is carving a new path with walnut tree planting, building upon the wisdom passed down from generations of farmers before him. Thanks to the invaluable presence of agricultural technicians who have been deployed to rural areas, farmers are now able to take better care of the trees. The recent high temperatures have posed a potential threat to the nascent walnut trees, prompting more frequent visits by the technicians. Chuckling, Liu Pingzhou lightheartedly admitted to an expert, “I didn’t listen to you before, did I? But now, I’m willing to heed your guidance, and I’m confident that this year’s harvest will be far more bountiful than ever.” His newfound collaboration with the technicians reflects his willingness to learn and adapt. Recognizing the challenges faced by the local walnut farming community, including a limited variety of plants, low yield, and limited added value, the technicians set out to persuade the farmers to improve their plant varieties. These endeavors resulted in a significant increase in per capita income, amounting to around 1,500 yuan (US$209). The technicians are now actively engaged in assisting the villagers in transforming barren mountain slopes into vibrant fruit gardens, planting cherries, pomegranates, hawthorns, apricots, plums, and jujubes. In Xiajiang Village, Zhejiang Province, farming was once considered a challenging endeavor. With less than 1 mu (about 0.07 hectares) of arable land per capita, the villagers had little confidence in their farming prospects. They would often wonder, “Can gold nuggets grow out of this kind of land?” In 2003, Yu Xuping, an engineer from the Zhejiang traditional medicine research institute, arrived in Xiajiang. One villager named Jiang Yinxiang said, “It is Mr. Yu who made me realize that one can achieve prosperity through farming.” Helped by Yu, the villagers started growing herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a result, the per capita disposable income of this mountain village has surged by 14.5 times over the past two decades. Meanwhile, the city of Longquan in Zhejiang boasted vast bamboo resources, encompassing 246,800 hectares of bamboo forests. However, the rich natural resources didn’t material into incomes. In 2015, Longquan’s bamboo and wood industry was transformed with the help of Chen Siyu, a professor from Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University. Chen was appointed as a special assistant to the mayor of Longquan whose responsibilities included overseeing the upgrading and technological innovation within the city’s bamboo and wood industry. Today, Chen continues to work in the city and has collaborated with various companies in the successful application of over 20 patents. Through his efforts, Longquan has secured more than 60 million yuan in supporting funds, leading to the creation of a billion-yuan bamboo and wood industry.(Xinhua) | 