Farsighted grape farmer uses family skills and modern technology to draw tourists to a once-sleepy East China village, Yang Feiyue reports in Jiaxing, Zhejiang.

Tang Jianqin checks the grapes at his farm in Majiadang village, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Editor's note: China Daily profiles ordinary people doing incredible things in the cultural sphere as the country has advanced over the past decade.

Life is "berry" cool for Tang Jianqin right now. The 58-year-old grape farmer from Majiadang village in Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, has had juicy sales since the beginning of the harvest season in June, and orders have been placed through October for the final picking.

"I introduce at least one new grape variety every year to keep up with the dynamic fruit market and its changing demands," says Tang, who has developed considerable business acumen over the years.

I introduce at least one new grape variety every year to keep up with the dynamic fruit market and its changing demands.

Tang Jianqin, grape farmer

"The wholesale fruit hub in Jiaxing is among the biggest of its kind in the country and offers timely information on market trends," he adds.

Earlier this year, Tang introduced a new grape variety that is devoid of seeds and twice the size of its garden-variety counterparts. It also features a pleasant carmine luster, has firm flesh and is delightfully sweet.

In late August, this awesome variety won the gold prize at a competition hosted by the Jiaxing grape association to encourage local farmers to raise the quality of their produce and create some buzz to promote sales.

Tang's new grapes are already out of stock, sold at 60 yuan ($8.7) a kilogram, about six times that of ordinary varieties. He admits that he owes his incredible success to today's technologies. "WeChat groups have bridged the gap between planters and agricultural experts. One can share problems and find solutions in no time."

Tourists pick fruit, including grapes, at Tang's farm. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The farmer says he learned on the platform that the key to ensuring healthy growth of his new grape variety was the strict control of output. "Generally speaking, I have to keep this grape variety's production at half of that of its counterparts in the same area or else the quality will be compromised. In particular, the red color won't stay," Tang explains.

In recent years, experts have offered farming tips online and uploaded training videos to help the farmers of Majiadang. "They even visit us every year to demonstrate methods that can improve yield," Tang says.

A network of well-built roads in the village offers easy access to Jiulong Ecological Farm, which was founded by Tang in 2000, a year after the local authorities began allowing the transfer of rural land-use rights to develop agricultural parks.

Tang leased an area of 10.7 hectares and answered the government's call to explore ways for more profitable agriculture. "The land was undulated and scattered, and there were only mud tracks instead of roads in the neighborhood," he recalls.

Born to a family of farmers, hard work was in his genes. His family grew crops that were physically demanding. "Back then, every step－from transplanting rice seedlings to harvesting the rice－was done manually and mostly under the scorching sun," he says.

Not to be deterred by a challenge, he went on board with the local government's plan, and planted grapes and dates on the leased land.

New varieties of fruit and vegetable, such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and mulberries, are among the produce of Tang Jianqin's farm. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Golden opportunity

Tang built more than 100 basic greenhouses, all covered with plastic sheets, and hired 20-odd villagers to help him till the land. It was plain sailing and he made an annual profit of over 320,000 yuan in the first couple of years. "But I knew there was more that needed to be done," he says.

Villagers still had to fertilize the land manually, causing wastage and pollution. Also, his greenhouse cluster was not great in terms of thermal insulation. Thus, in 2008, Tang adopted the drip irrigation system to ensure efficient use of fertilizers and to ease farm operations.

In 2016, the local authorities launched the "beautiful countryside program". Roads were paved to connect all major points in the village, toilets were upgraded for a cleaner environment, and a tourist center, a farm museum and parking zones were built.

Tang saw the tourist influx as a golden opportunity. He expanded the range of his produce to cover red dragon fruits, kiwis, strawberries, cherry tomatoes and mulberries. "As I had hoped, tourists made their way to my farm, asking if they could buy my fruit," he says.

New varieties of fruit and vegetable, such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and mulberries, are among the produce of Tang Jianqin's farm. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Gauging the market potential, Tang invested in infrastructure upgrades in 2017.

He erected "multi-span greenhouses" that were five times more expensive, but allowed smart temperature control and offered better resistance to extreme weather, such as blizzards and gales. "These structures automatically open up when it is too hot and close when it is too cold."

Tang has managed to nurture 17 tropical fruits that have proved to be popular in the market. Years of learning has helped him deliver a three-dimensional eco-planting and breeding system, in which he raises fowl under the fruit trees.

A financial and ecological marvel, his farm draws visitors from far and wide. "I receive more than 100 guests daily during spring and autumn. Most of them come from downtown Jiaxing, Hangzhou and Shanghai," he says.

New varieties of fruit and vegetable, such as grapes, cherry tomatoes and mulberries, are among the produce of Tang Jianqin's farm. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Net gains

Tang believes in moving with the times and is now adept at using the internet to run his business. Every day, he checks online orders pouring in through the local e-commerce platform Benjiaxian, supervises packaging and ensures timely delivery.

"The internet came in really handy amid the pandemic. I needed to just click on the screen a few times to stay in business," he says.

Tang's income has tripled since he first started the farm and he is currently able to employ more villagers. Shen Xiangguan has been working for him for 20 years. The 70-year-old manages the overall plantation.

"I am getting older and, luckily for me, the job is less demanding nowadays, thanks to advanced farming equipment. I only need to keep an eye on the produce, and turn some valves here and there," says Shen, who is able to take home an annual income of more than 60,000 yuan.

Tang's thriving business is partly driven by the authorities' efforts to revitalize rural areas. An agricultural center has been established, along with a supermarket, a seeds company and a farming school.

Besides helping local producers, these have created job opportunities, says Jin Yi, an official in charge of Majiadang. In the first half of this year, the village witnessed a tourist footfall of 90,000 and raked in 8 million yuan, Jin adds.

Construction of a new railway station, within walking distance of Tang's farm, is expected to begin this month. Majiadang will then be a 30-minute train ride from Shanghai. "We can certainly expect more visitors once the station comes up," Tang says.

In the near future, the farmer hopes to make his business largely digital. "I also want to hire young people to keep up with the times," he adds.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn