"New farmers" pioneer in rural vitalization

[Video by Gao Fuying and Yin Ting for chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhao Degao, a "post-90s" youth from Zhangfengchao village, located in the Changguan town of Ningjin county, Dezhou, Shandong province, returned to his hometown to start a business and develop a specialty fruit and vegetable industry. 

He has planted eight fruit and vegetable greenhouses, cultivating a diverse range of fist-sized products, such as small watermelons, Hami melons, and colorful cherry tomatoes. He also registered the "Zhangfengchao" brand and sold his products through multiple channels, like the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo and the livestream platform Douyin.

In 2023, his sales revenue exceeded 2 million yuan ($275,000). In Ningjin, more and more “new farmers" like Zhao Degao are returning to their hometowns to start businesses, bringing new ideas and perspectives to the countryside and pursuing their dreams of rural vitalization. (Edited by Lin Li)