'Straw Hat University' keeps founder busy

WeChat group helps spread drought-resistant techniques for growing organic watermelons and tomatoes

Farmer Liu Xiao has become much busier since he founded his "Straw Hat University" in May.

Liu, 56, is famous among fellow farmers in Liulin county, in northern China's Shanxi province, for his independently researched drought-resistant farming techniques.

"Straw Hat University is just the nickname of a WeChat group," he said. "On May 26, I set up the WeChat group to give technical guidance to farmers attending the launch ceremony of a planting base for organic watermelons and tomatoes. More than 400 farmers present, each wearing a straw hat, joined in the group, hence the name."

Liu uses the WeChat group to give local farmers specialized courses to improve their planting techniques and to seek channels to bring pesticide-free agricultural products to cities.

Frequent droughts in the region and the lack of agricultural technology services have severely restricted the development of agriculture and farmers' incomes, according to the local government.

"Every evening, I will spend two or three hours in the WeChat group, hoping to help the farmers learn how to plant scientifically instead of only depending on experience," Liu said. "I also believe that they can achieve the transformation from poverty to wealth through hard work."

Liu was born in an extremely poor family in Liulin and became disabled from the bone disease rickets when a child.

Despite good grades at school, his disability prevented him from going on to college.

In the eight years after graduating from high school he attempted to start different businesses, including raising chickens and planting mushrooms, but none succeeded.

In 1983, he noticed an article in a local newspaper introducing the technology of plastic mulching.

After reading it carefully, he decided to have a try.

He borrowed money to buy plastic film and watermelon seeds, and started cultivating his 800 square meter field.

Almost all his relatives and friends advised him to change his mind.

"They told me that nobody could successfully grow watermelons on the dry land," he said. "I could understand their concerns, but the attempt was my last straw. I had to stick to it."

The results did not disappoint him.

His watermelon seedlings grew from the mulch after a drought and he welcomed a bumper harvest three months later.

"I still remember selling 800 kilograms of watermelons for 1,600 yuan, which was really a large sum of money at that time," Liu said. "I counted the money over and over again with tears and smiles."