Trainers teach farmers how to reap rewards

Zhou's company plans to sell 1,500 seed throwers this year. At one training session, he sold 30 of the machines. The company asks sales people to conduct training for farmers each year. Each dealer trains over 200 farmers.

"We also invite teachers from education institutions to the training, and the content is not just limited to our own products," Zhou said. The training has also helped farmers get jobs with agricultural companies.

Jian Lirong, who runs an agricultural machinery company in Yiyang, Hunan province, said they hired some of the farmers who performed well in training.

"We now have over 20 trainers in the company, and over half of them are former farmers who participated in our training," Jian said.

"They help promote standardized farming ideas and techniques in local villages."

Jiang Taijun, an officer with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said when the training focused on hands-on use of the machinery and the production process, it helped the companies improve their products.

"It also serves as a good supplement to government training," Jiang added.

Xinhua