Sowing seeds of success

Green growth

Jiashan's model, which pairs its rural communities with leading green, sustainable enterprises for shared growth, involves at least nine townships and over 10 major agricultural groups covering more than 10,000 hectares of arable land.

The county reported average village gross income last year rising more than 30 percent year-on-year to reach 4.01 million yuan, with 84 villages giving dividends to households totaling 76.26 million yuan.

Per capita disposable income of rural residents in the county hit over 40,700 yuan, an increase of more than 7 percent year-on-year.

In the past three years, the county rolled out at least 36 major agricultural projects with a total investment of 6.168 billion yuan, according to the county's agriculture bureau.

More than 30,000 farmers have been trained, with over 1,100 agricultural specialists, management and technical professionals involved.

Jiashan's agricultural road map includes "family farm cultivation" plans and the standardization of cooperatives, which covers four major enterprises and nearly 800 major farming households.

Xu Zhihua, head of the county agriculture bureau, said Jiashan, a major supplier of rice and vegetables for major cities such as Shanghai, is well-placed as a model for rural-urban development.

As younger residents move to urban areas, older villagers are able to access and keep up with job training, and partnerships between enterprises and cooperatives help bring infrastructure improvements and economic development in cultural tourism and other related sectors.

"It's a good balance of technology, training and resources. Incomes and dividends continue to be generated," he said. "We have about 1,000 instructors and specialists a year to help with training. Local products get their own distinct branding. It's well-rounded development."

At Jiashan Shangpin Agricultural Technology Co, a similarly novel approach to entrepreneurship and innovation that involves close partnerships with local farmers helps to fuel inclusive growth in the county.

With solid vegetable and fruit industry chains, the company's focus on sustainable agricultural products is maintained and developed. The group recorded 118 million yuan in sales last year.

The company has set up an agricultural technology arm, named Yiligu, to focus on research and development with groups at home and abroad to cultivate farming expertise and facilities in local communities, ranging from smart greenhouse management and control to hydroponics.

Yiligu work stations attract college students and entrepreneurs to the sector, with nearly 4,000 farming specialists trained in the county and beyond.

The company has brought together at least 19 major agricultural enterprises, cooperatives and family farms, and connected more than 600 hectares of farmland to ensure supply of quality vegetables and stable income to local farmers.

Zhou Jianchun, head of the Yiligu planting base in Jiashan, said modern mechanized packing facilities, skilled labor and efficient logistics chains ensure that the competitive, locally branded vegetables and related products are delivered to market, supplying customers such as major restaurant chains.

"Our partnerships with the farming community, including sustainable practices through cooperatives and digital platforms, are long-term approaches to the development of modern agriculture here," he said.