China: Across China: Urbanites fork out for practical farming experience in SW China village
In just about two months, 120 out of the total 160 family farms have been rented out.
Source: XinhuaEditor:
2022-08-16
Excerpt:
Deng Xingyu, a 77-year-old farmer, toils year in and year out on his small patch of land, planting crops. So, he was surprised to discover that an increasing number of nearby city dwellers are coming to his sleepy village and are willing to pay for a hands-on experience of being a farmer.
Hailing from Yuliang Village, Shiye Township, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, Deng now has his field divided into about 22 small plots. Each plot is leased for 1,280 yuan (about 190 U.S. dollars) per year to those visitors who yearn for an idyllic rural life experience, he said.
Since this June, the local government has jumped onto the lucrative trend and has set up a total of 160 “family farms.” “The urbanites want to live in deep rusticity so such farms can be a good idea for both the city residents and local farmers,” said Ai Dehua, head of the township.
Owing to the local topography, the villagers of Yuliang once endured scarce and scattered farmland. They could hardly make a living from farming alone, but the idea of leasing fields to tourists helps to maximize the development potential of the arable land.
“While the city dwellers can enjoy the farming cycle from planting to reaping for leisure, locals can find new ways to make money such as by leasing the land, helping as temporary farm workers and selling beverages to the visitors,” Ai said.
