Xiao Yuan works on her orange plantation in Shexingshan, Hunan province. [Photo/China Daily]
Xiao Yuan, 28, said she has a special attachment to the countryside, as her family grew up in rural areas. "I've always been attracted to villages," she said.
After studying in Russia for seven years, Xiao started planting orange groves in her hometown of Shexingshan in Hunan province, and has since helped more than 2,000 villagers escape poverty.
Xiao got her undergraduate degree from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and a master's in linguistics from the St Petersburg State University. She could also have gone on to pursue a doctorate but instead, she opted to return to Shexingshan. "I had been away from home for too long, and I missed China so much," she said.
One day in November 2019, she bought some pork from an elderly man in a nearby village.
Xiao didn't have cash and couldn't pay through WeChat because the man didn't have an account. He said he would come to her house and collect payment the following day.
As the man had promised, he turned up at her house for payment, and while driving him home, Xiao realized that he had walked hours to reach her along a 3-kilometer road through the mountains.
His wife, who is visually impaired, was waiting at the door for them.
"When they shook my hands and said I was a good woman, I felt very guilty," she said, adding that she then began thinking about doing something to help poor families in nearby villages.
Toward the end of 2019, she rented 66 hectares to plant oranges and tangelos, hoping to drive rural vitalization and help develop the area's economy.
Xiao learns how to drive an automatic seedling planting machine on her plantation. [Photo/China Daily]
A year later, she rented an additional 66 hectares and planted rice. However, her efforts were spoiled last year by too much rainfall, which halted growth and even caused some seedlings to rot.
This year, Xiao spent 300,000 yuan ($44,250) on building a greenhouse to resolve the problem once and for all.
To boost sales, she signed a contract with an agricultural technology company that gives a 30 percent discount on seeds, offers guidance on the use of planting technology, and purchases all of the crops at harvest.
Xiao said that aside from improving sales, working with the company has reduced production costs for farmers and has taught them about advanced agricultural technology. Through her encouragement, 24 farming households are now collaborating with the company.
She said that developing agriculture is much like studying. "Every effort pays off."
Xiao has spent about 800,000 yuan a year on renting land for villagers, benefiting about 2,000 people, and has also provided them with 32 full-time and 190 part-time jobs. With her help, 2,091 people from poor families were able to escape poverty in 2020.
"Agriculture is important. It's the basis of every industry. So this career gives me a sense of honor and purpose," she said, adding that she hopes more young people will consider returning to the villages to farm.
Peng Jianxin and his wife, Xie Yongying, of Gaohe village were once migrant workers, earning little pay. In March 2020, the couple joined Xiao's company, and made about 100,000 yuan last year.
Now, they are able to take better care of their family. "Xiao likes to learn and does credible work. Within a year of returning, she had developed extensive knowledge of agricultural development," Peng said.
As the breadwinner in the family, He Dongqiu from Yaoqiao village, was under pressure to provide. But ever since his wife found a job at Xiao's company, earning about 2,000 yuan a month, some of that pressure has eased. "Last year, Xiao also gave us baby chicks and pigs to raise, encouraging us to make our own money. With her help, our life has a purpose," He said.
A year later, she rented an additional 66 hectares and planted rice. However, her efforts were spoiled last year by too much rainfall, which halted growth and even caused some seedlings to rot.
This year, Xiao spent 300,000 yuan ($44,250) on building a greenhouse to resolve the problem once and for all.
To boost sales, she signed a contract with an agricultural technology company that gives a 30 percent discount on seeds, offers guidance on the use of planting technology, and purchases all of the crops at harvest.
Xiao said that aside from improving sales, working with the company has reduced production costs for farmers and has taught them about advanced agricultural technology. Through her encouragement, 24 farming households are now collaborating with the company.
She said that developing agriculture is much like studying. "Every effort pays off."
Xiao has spent about 800,000 yuan a year on renting land for villagers, benefiting about 2,000 people, and has also provided them with 32 full-time and 190 part-time jobs. With her help, 2,091 people from poor families were able to escape poverty in 2020.
"Agriculture is important. It's the basis of every industry. So this career gives me a sense of honor and purpose," she said, adding that she hopes more young people will consider returning to the villages to farm.
Peng Jianxin and his wife, Xie Yongying, of Gaohe village were once migrant workers, earning little pay. In March 2020, the couple joined Xiao's company, and made about 100,000 yuan last year.
Now, they are able to take better care of their family. "Xiao likes to learn and does credible work. Within a year of returning, she had developed extensive knowledge of agricultural development," Peng said.
As the breadwinner in the family, He Dongqiu from Yaoqiao village, was under pressure to provide. But ever since his wife found a job at Xiao's company, earning about 2,000 yuan a month, some of that pressure has eased. "Last year, Xiao also gave us baby chicks and pigs to raise, encouraging us to make our own money. With her help, our life has a purpose," He said.
A year later, she rented an additional 66 hectares and planted rice. However, her efforts were spoiled last year by too much rainfall, which halted growth and even caused some seedlings to rot.
This year, Xiao spent 300,000 yuan ($44,250) on building a greenhouse to resolve the problem once and for all.
To boost sales, she signed a contract with an agricultural technology company that gives a 30 percent discount on seeds, offers guidance on the use of planting technology, and purchases all of the crops at harvest.
Xiao said that aside from improving sales, working with the company has reduced production costs for farmers and has taught them about advanced agricultural technology. Through her encouragement, 24 farming households are now collaborating with the company.
She said that developing agriculture is much like studying. "Every effort pays off."
Xiao has spent about 800,000 yuan a year on renting land for villagers, benefiting about 2,000 people, and has also provided them with 32 full-time and 190 part-time jobs. With her help, 2,091 people from poor families were able to escape poverty in 2020.
"Agriculture is important. It's the basis of every industry. So this career gives me a sense of honor and purpose," she said, adding that she hopes more young people will consider returning to the villages to farm.
Peng Jianxin and his wife, Xie Yongying, of Gaohe village were once migrant workers, earning little pay. In March 2020, the couple joined Xiao's company, and made about 100,000 yuan last year.
Now, they are able to take better care of their family. "Xiao likes to learn and does credible work. Within a year of returning, she had developed extensive knowledge of agricultural development," Peng said.
As the breadwinner in the family, He Dongqiu from Yaoqiao village, was under pressure to provide. But ever since his wife found a job at Xiao's company, earning about 2,000 yuan a month, some of that pressure has eased. "Last year, Xiao also gave us baby chicks and pigs to raise, encouraging us to make our own money. With her help, our life has a purpose," He said.
Ou Dezhi, a former member of the Xinlian village poverty relief team, said that Xiao's efforts will benefit farmers in the long run, and that he hoped more college students will be willing to return to the villages.
Source: China Daily
