Zhang Shasha, manager of Lüyuan Vegetables Cooperative [Xinhua/Mu Yu]

Zhang Shasha, 33, manager of Lüyuan Vegetables Cooperative (in Dailiuzhuang, a village in Cangzhou, a city in North China's Hebei Province), is somewhat of a celebrity in Suning, a county in Cangzhou. Why? As she has made tremendous efforts to develop the cooperative during the past few years, she has helped many farmers escape poverty, by helping them increase vegetable production and sales. 

Zhang quit a high-paying job in Langfang, another city in Hebei, in 2015, and returned home to her village to grow newly introduced varieties of vegetable seedlings with Wang Xuemeng, her husband. The couple also encouraged villagers to grow the seedlings. 

"At that time, we put much effort into studying how to grow vegetable seedlings. We also explored new ways to improve the cooperative's management," recalls Zhang.

While conducting research, Zhang discovered fine varieties of vegetable seedlings were in short supply. Therefore, she suggested the cooperative establish high-standard seedling greenhouses, and she introduced precision seeders and an advanced, automatic seeding assembly line to the cooperative. She also introduced more than 20 varieties of vegetables, from well-known seed companies, from both home and abroad, to the cooperative. 

During the past several years, Zhang has invested much time and energy in testing new varieties of vegetables. Also, she has applied for nine technological patents. As a result, many villagers have considered her "an expert in cultivating seedlings." 

Says Zhang: "I take care of seedlings as if they were my babies." She and Wang have a clear division of their duties: Wang conducts tests, to learn how well the new varieties of seedlings grow, and he introduces the seedlings to villagers. Zhang, meanwhile, is responsible for sales and related services, and the technical management of seedlings' cultivation. She also explains (in videos) the process of cultivating seedlings, so more people can learn how to plant, water and fertilize the seedlings, and to prevent pests from invading the plants. Given her superb skills (of cultivating seedlings), Zhang has gained the trust of many customers.

In 2017, Zhang's parents transferred the right to manage Suning Seedling Breeding Base to Zhang and Wang. Attracted by its reputation, many residents of neighboring villages joined the base, which adopted a cooperative-management model. 

Some members of the cooperative help Zhang and Wang cultivate vegetable seedlings during the busy season, and they grow vegetables in their own greenhouses at ordinary times. "Members of our cooperative may buy seedlings at a discount. We provide technological guidance to the members, as they take care of the seedlings. We also invite agricultural experts to teach the members how to grow newly introduced varieties of seedlings, and how to prevent pests from invading the plants. That helps the members reduce their costs," says Zhang. 

During the past few years, Zhang has put a lot of effort into both expanding the market and helping the members promote sales of their seedlings. Now, the cooperative has more than 600 members, and those members have helped cultivate more than 70 varieties of vegetables or fruits (for the cooperative). The products have sold well in many regions of China, including Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin. 

Given her tremendous efforts to study the techniques of cultivating vegetable and fruit seedlings, Zhang during the past eight years has become an expert in cultivating seedlings. Given her outstanding work performance, the All-China Women's Federation and China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2021 named Zhang one of the outstanding self-made women rural entrepreneurs in China. 

(Source: Xinhua/Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)