In a bid to revitalize its rural areas, Guangzhou, a southern Chinese mega city, is witnessing the impressive progress of a rural revamp project. Situated approximately 90 minutes from the city center, this ambitious endeavor aims to breathe new life into the region’s paddy fields and transform them into thriving, efficient, and high-yielding plots.
Led by Chen Yi and his dedicated team, the project has already begun reaping positive results, providing a promising future for the once-neglected countryside.
After decades of urban development, many farmers have abandoned their crops to work in the city. This has led to the degradation of some of the soil. The family run parcels don’t yield a lot of income due to a lack of scale. The area is also prone to flooding. So much of the land had gone to waste. To increase agricultural output, we’ve had to improve the infrastructure.
That includes building new irrigation and flood drainage systems, as well as shoring up roads. The new farmland will produce about 800, 000 kilos of rice this summer. Not much for its first season, according to Chen, but still leading to greater benefits than before.
We’re about two months away from the first harvest, but the REVAMP project doesn’t focus only on producing more food, but also making farmland a bedrock for other types of business, such as retail, tourism, and education.
Longtan is the nearest of three villages benefiting from the new development. A bridal shopping street, a five star hotel, and an e commerce park are all planned, expected to add 13 million to the local GDP each year.
The project has created lots of jobs. Even the construction team is made of mostly locals. Villagers also receive rent from their land and real estate. They can also start their own businesses by opening up restaurants or bed and breakfast.
Between the old cornfield and another rice plot, this new villa is a surprising sight. A European holiday in Guangzhou? Manager Ling grew up next door and has been enjoying the easy commuter new job since March.
I grew up helping out in the field, but farming alone wasn’t enough to support the family, so I left to work in the city. This is perfect because I can now work and look after my parents at the same time. Once the event is finished, more tourists will come. I’m very excited about the future.
The three-year project to revamp the area slated to finish in October. Officials expect a wave of rural entrepreneurship to follow attracted by tax incentives and grants for startups.
