Farmer ships food to front line of epidemic

Zhang Yongxiang, 53-years-old, is a farmer in Shoushan county, Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province. Running an ecologically friendly farm at an altitude of 600 meters, over the past few days he has provided more than 1,100 jin (550 kg) of vegetables and nearly 4,500 eggs for free to medical workers and police on the front line fighting against the novel coronavirus in Fuzhou.

"People on the front line are saving lives, while I am a farmer so what I can do is support them with some vegetables," Zhang posted on his Wechat Moments.

After hearing a police officer's account, Zhang understood his worry of not being able to buy vegetables for his family due to his nonstop workload and reckoned that his own doctor friends might be having similar difficulties. So Zhang decided to support them with some vegetables and other foods which he typically would have sold for a profit. "We farmers can do our part and send some vegetables and eggs," Zhang told The Paper.

But it's not as easy a task as he first imagined. He found himself facing transportation difficulties due to road closures in the village. " Fortunately, they understand and supported my work by giving me a special pass," Zhang said after he reached out to village officials in Shoushan county.