Academic leads his village to prosperity

Ex-president of Hunan Academy of Social Sciences turned down lucrative offers to head farming community

Zhu Youzhi did not hesitate for a second when he gave up a yearly salary of 1 million yuan ($161,200) to become a village head.

The 62-year-old was the former president of the Hunan Academy of Social Sciences, and two colleges offered him high salaries in 2013 when he retired from the academy. Instead, he chose to spend the rest of his life with the 3,200 poor farmers in Kaihui, a village in Changsha, Hunan province.

"My wife didn't support me at first," said Zhu. "She wanted me to spend more time with her, because we're getting old, but I managed to change her mind after stating my goal."

That goal was to turn Kaihui into a wealthy village and a healthy place with a prosperous future.

He became impressed by the village while undertaking research there for the academy in 2009.

"Though just 50 kilometers from the provincial capital Changsha, the village is the poorest in the area," Zhu said. "It has few natural resources, and the annual per capita income is only about 10,000 yuan."

As a doctoral tutor specializing in agricultural economic management, Zhu believes he has the ability to help the farmers out of poverty. He helped the village committee to rent 460 hectares in the mountains and 187 hectares of farmland from farmers then cooperated with professional companies to establish a kiwi fruit processing industrial park and a high-quality rice cultivation center.

The village has established six cooperative societies, covering areas such as rice, vegetables and farm machinery, to help the farmers to acquire agricultural techniques and cultivate better quality products.

"Farmers aged 60 and over who join the societies for five years will receive a pension every month," Zhu said. "Now more than 96 percent of the farmers have joined the society."

Zhu also helped the village to build a kiwi fruit research center as well as kiwi fruit cosmetics and liquor factories.

"The tourists may buy kiwi fruit products while they're enjoying a stay in a farm lodging," said Zhu. "Last year, about half a million tourists were attracted by the farm stays of the village."

Su Feng, a worker with the village committee, said Zhu has changed the atmosphere of Kaihui village, which he thinks is the most important thing.

"Corruption exists in many Chinese villages," said Su. "Many village leaders allow ineligible people to get basic living allowances after taking bribes. As a person of strong character and quick action, Zhu has made the village different in a better way."

Zhu said he is energetic and the idea of leaving the village never occurs to him. He often holds meetings with the villagers until midnight because many farmers are occupied during daytime. He then drives for about 40 minutes to go home to Changsha city.

"People in their sixties can do many things," said Zhu. "The government should put forward more policies to encourage professionals to go to places where they are needed after they're retired."

Cang Wei contributed to the story.

Contact the writers at fengzhiwei@chinadaily.com.cn