A new breed of hope

Empowering talent

In Lu's view, the key to revitalizing rural areas is to attract young people and college graduates to return and work in their hometowns.

He mentioned that the main workforce in Jishishan's agricultural production consists of people born in the 1950s and 1960s, and many young people are reluctant to return to rural areas due to lifestyle considerations.

"The loss of talent poses substantial challenges for rural areas in terms of innovation and knowledge," Lu said. "Youth should, in fact, be the backbone of rural development. Their professional skills can elevate entire industries."

Lu also noted that rural areas offer abundant opportunities for young people's personal development.

"Competition in first- and second-tier cities is extremely intense. College students from northwestern regions face considerable pressure when seeking employment in big cities. However, if they return to their local areas, they become a highly knowledgeable group capable of making significant contributions to rural development," he explained. "By shifting their mindset, they can discover a new arena to showcase their talents."

The five university graduates currently employed at the breeding center have already infused the facility with fresh energy.