中国的新一代农民

Traditionally, most new graduates set their eyes on climbing the corporate ladder in a big, bustling city. But recently, many college graduates have been rejecting life in the city, and choosing instead to plant their roots in the countryside. For many, ploughing fields in the fresh country air is more appealing than sitting behind a computer.

27-year-old Shen Kai is busy harvesting this season’s crops. But Ms. Shen doesn’t fit the profile or look like a traditional farmer. During the past six years, she has been expanding the scale of her farm.

"I returned to my village after I finished college. I started by growing rice. But due to monetary reasons, I planted grapes instead. I also raised chickens, ducks and geese, I use their waste as a natural fertilizer," Shen said.

She calls it a three-dimensional cultivation system, as all her plants and animals are closely connected.

Most of the fruits can be reused in this farm, as you can tell, even the rotten grapes cannot be considered as a waste.

And when it comes to selling her produce, she has ditched the traditional market, choosing instead to go hi-tech.

"I will update my harvest on my microblog and wechat account. I also set up a business website recently. There’s still a lot to learn. My farm’s revenues reached nearly eight million yuan last year," Shen said.

Apart from selling to customers and feeding poultry, grapes can also be used to make something else.

Shen says she’s happy with her farm, not only for the entrepreneurial experience it has brought, but also for helping solve the surplus of labor in her village.

And she has even bigger plans for the future.

She hopes to one day combine farming with tourism, in hopes of drawing more people from the city who want a taste of the country life.