Local talent contributes to rural vitalization in Shandong county

Liu's tofu workshop in Guokou village, Daqiao town, Dong'e county, Liaocheng, Shandong. [Photo by Li Aiming/for chinadaily.com.cn]

A tofu workshop in Guokou village, Daqiao town, Dong'e county, Liaocheng, Shandong has recently become a popular tourist destination.

The workshop's owner, Liu Bao, says that in addition to offering tofu feasts and a cultural museum, the workshop features areas for children to experience traditional tofu sprout cultivation and learn about printing techniques.

In 2013, Liu established a grain planting cooperative called Qisheng, leading to the cultivation of over 333.33 hectares of soybeans and the development of deep-processed soy products.

Liu is known as a "rural vitalization partner" among villagers. Dong'e county has formulated support measures that combine government backing with market operations to attract talents like Liu for rural vitalization.

With the support of agricultural departments, Liu collaborated with Guokou village in 2023 to launch the tofu workshop, which has created jobs for nearby villagers and increased the village's annual income by over 300,000 yuan ($41,357.01).

Partners like Liu are becoming more common, using various forms of investment and cooperation to promote employment and increase income. Currently, Dong'e county has 32 projects in place, creating jobs for over 1,000 people and the increasing village collective income by 5 million yuan. The county also enhances training for local talent, injecting new momentum into rural vitalization. (Edited by Yang Yi)