Chinese graduates taking their skills back to rural areas
In 2013, Mi Chun left southern China's Guangdong Province, where he had worked since graduation and returned to his hometown, Tongnan District, in the hilly area of southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality, baffling his family.
They had no idea what Mi could grow on their unattended land, scattered upon the hill, but the family of five toiled away for two weeks on their 20,000 square meters of arable land. Mi's family had to drag a 40 meter pipe up the hill, watering strawberry seedlings for seven hours from late afternoon until dusk.
Their efforts paid off. The fruit brings Mi an annual income of 300,000 yuan (43,540 U.S. dollars), much higher than what he made in the city.
There are more than 100 young entrepreneurs like Mi in Tongnan alone, and over 1 million nationwide. And their group keeps expanding.
"Most graduates come back with professional knowledge, new concepts and modern technology on agriculture," said Tang Bangfu, a local official.
The trend for entrepreneurs going back home echoes China's move to upgrade the agriculture industry. The government hopes well-educated graduates will inject new life and competition into traditional farming.
"These graduates have the gene of innovation and e-commerce and can bring new blood to traditional agriculture, said Zheng Fengtian, professor at the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Renmin University of China. "They are the ones to pin our hopes on for the supply-side reform of agriculture."
source: shanghaidaily.com
