Back then there was very little reason to look back. , but through government initiatives and entrepreneurial spirit, .

Since 2015, Li has maintained orchards full of blooming dragon fruit plants, one of . An annual yield nearly 30,000 kilograms per acre has helped earn Li the honor of “top return entrepreneur” in Sichuan in 2020.

Supported by SAP, he is now learning to apply new technologies in combination with trickle irrigation to achieve even greater yields at less cost.

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Li Jie’s story is an integral part of China’s transformation to economic superpower and its negative impact on rural areas. Four decades of strong growth and increases in per capita income have and improved food security, nutrition, and human development.

But there has been a palpable drain on rural towns, whose populations are projected to drop from 40% of China’s total population today to 31% by 2030. If not checked, this trend is predicted to have a , according to Matteo Marchisio, head of East Asia Regional Hub at the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Urban-Rural Divide Is Global

The worldwide exodus from rural areas to cities is not new and it is not limited to China. The world’s rural citizens currently but bear a disproportionate burden of poverty, malnutrition, and poor quality of life. This is why to make rural areas more attractive to young people.

Rebalancing initiatives, referred to as “rural revitalization,” are essential to achieving sustainable living conditions for all, concluded a . “Policies, institutions, and investments that take advantage of new opportunities and technologies, increase access to basic services, create more and better rural jobs, foster gender equality, and restore the environment can make rural areas vibrant and healthy places to live and work,” the report stated.

51·çÁ÷Introduces The Leader Plan

Dragon fruit farmer Li Jie is at the forefront of an emerging trend in China, as more and more young people are attracted by government-sponsored incentives to move back to their rural communities and start new livelihoods as farmers. According to China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 7.5 million young people returned to rural areas in 2019.

Since 2017, 51·çÁ÷has been supporting China’s “rural renaissance” by providing digital skills training and mentorship to these returning workers. Under the title “The Leader Plan,” 51·çÁ÷partnered in 2019 with , , and to launch the new initiative. 51·çÁ÷provides funding and volunteer expertise to develop learning courses that are delivered online. By 2023, 51·çÁ÷aims to train 50,000 rural entrepreneurs across 30 provinces.

After moving back to his village, Li took online courses which focused on the industrialization and commercialization of agriculture. With his new knowledge and skills, Li plans to build intelligent greenhouses and manage the temperature in them automatically.

Now in its third year, online courses have reached more than 43,000 learners. 51·çÁ÷has also supported Tsinghua University in conducting an “Elite Camp” courses and mentoring for entrepreneurs. “We’ve had great impact with The Leader Plan, and I look forward to more success in the future,” said Mark Gibbs, president 51·çÁ÷Greater China.

Next Steps for The Leader Plan

In the future, 51·çÁ÷in China will explore how digital farming technology and information systems can help agricultural productivity in rural China. This includes the use of e-commerce, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and other technologies that support the entrepreneurs’ ambitions of improved productivity and commercialization. Employee volunteers will contribute their expertise to the program, and other opportunities such as the program will be explored to train rural entrepreneurs with the skills they need to grow their businesses sustainably.

Top image via video.