Beijing Trust to provide 18 million yuan to cherry cooperatives

Traditional farming costs farmers too much time and the land is scarce and scattered. With no sales channels or bargaining power, it has been a difficult year for the sale of agricultural products. Farmers typically sell them at a low price to middlemen. However, after the land transfer project from Beijing Trust, farmers have not only gained the knowledge of how to get more out of their land, but they also have the right to do whatever they want with the land, and therefore can engage in a variety of businesses to help produce income.

This is all thanks to the Beijing Trust’s "Double Cooperative Model" in Shuizhang Village, and this is how it works: the village has established a 'Group Economic Stock Cooperative', and the 'Shengshui Cherry Cooperative'. The Group Economic Stock Cooperative has entrusted the land management rights to the Beijing Trust. Beijing Trust then leases the land to Shengshui Cherry Cooperative and receives fixed rent income from the land.

At the same time, Beijing Trust has provided a trust fund of 18 million yuan to the cherry cooperative, to help expand its production and improve business. When the cherry cooperative can generate profits, Beijing Trust can then get a certain proportion of dividend.

The village introduced new blueberries this year which are already bearing fruit, and are ready to be sold to a large supermarket in Beijing. One employee used to be considered a peasant, but is now a part of the cooperative management. He now earns 3,000 yuan ($483 USD) every month and is very satisfied.

Tan Shouwen is the director of the Qingdao Fengsheng Fruit Nursery Stock Cooperative, the place where the Shengshui Cherry Cooperative sends their seedlings. Tan Shouwen said that he has been there to provide technical guidance since 2011. He has sent about 600,000 strains of grape seedlings and more than 50,000 cherry seedlings over the past three year. They ordered 10,000 cherry seedlings at one time this year as a result of proper funding.