Innovation transforms Changchun village

By Shen Yuan, Yichang International Communication Studio

The foresight and imagination of one of its native sons has transformed the tranquil village of Changchun in Yichang. Village chief Mei Chaohui’s innovative agricultural practices have revitalized the area.

Born in 1973, Mei has gone from high school graduate to successful entrepreneur. In 2013, after gaining work experience and financial stability from his jobs in several big cities, Mei decided to return to his hometown, keen to make a meaningful impact on his village.

And he certainly did.

Changchun, about 50km to the northwest of Yichang, is a fertile place and Mei decided to try his hand at beef cattle farming. Using his savings together with funds borrowed from friends, he set up a company, Zigui Benteng Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology.

As his cattle farming operation expanded, Mei realized he needed additional pasture and saw an opportunity to benefit the whole village. He distributed free grass seeds, offered favorable prices for locally cultivated grass, and provided training on grass planting and harvesting.

As a result, over 30 households in the village are engaged in grass cultivation, on more than 50 acres, with a per-acre yield exceeding 5,000 yuan (US$683.16).

Mei’s ambitions extended further. Remembering the waterlogged fields of his childhood, he saw that there was an opportunity to cultivate cold-water rice and decided to lease more than 50 acres of fallow land from neighboring farmers. Leveraging the natural advantages of the village, he turned it into a thriving cold-water rice plantation. This business provided work for over a thousand farmers from the surrounding area.

Mei also seized the opportunity to develop distinctive agricultural projects and even ventured into rural tourism. By integrating tourism into his activities, he made the village a local attraction, bringing in tourists from near and far.

Thanks to Mei’s determination and vision, the once-quiet village has evolved into a thriving destination, and many young people from Changchun Village have returned to their birthplace to open rural homestays and guesthouses.

Three Gorges Business Today’s Zeng Xuebin contributed the original Chinese story for this report.