Liu Xuehong

"For farmers, crops are what matter most, just like their children, because farmers work so hard on the farmland for the entire year and pin all their hope on the harvest," said Liu Xuehong, a farmer in Beijing's Huairou district.

Liu knows farmers very well not only because she is one of them, but because she has dealt with them for more than a decade by providing them with seeds.

With honesty and credit, Liu built her company and her reputation. Success did not come easily; like a seed growing into crop, she withstood trials and hardships.

Liu started to sell seeds in 2002 when she knew very little about seeds, and selling seeds was just a way to make living. When farmers didn't get a good harvest with her seeds, they often came to her and asked why. She had no idea, but, feeling responsible for her seeds, she decided to find out the reason.

To find out, she went to agricultural institutes many times and invited experts to give farmers guidance on planting. In addition, she found books on seeds and taught herself. When she finally understood the right ways of planting and managing crops, she taught planting techniques to farmers when they bought seeds from her. Gradually, she earned her reputation and more people began to trust her.

In 2006, Liu started her seed company, and two years later, she opened planting cooperatives with housewives in the college as members. Zheng Guiqin, a local rural housewife, said "I planted Liu's corn seeds on my 0.66-hectare-area farmland this year due to the good reputation of the cooperatives. Now, my family depends on Liu for a good harvest."

Liu has been working hard to live up to the expectations of her fellow villagers.

In 2004, as she learned more about seeds and planting, Liu built a hybrid seeds production base with an area of 60 hectares. After years of effort, she cultivated a new corn seed and passed the examination of Beijing Seed Control Station.

However, due to mistakes by production staff, some seeds couldn't be sold. The mistake cost her two million yuan and meant all her efforts were in vain. Facing failure, she was very depressed, but to prevent farmers from being affected, she took it all by herself.

Despite many difficulties, Liu made it. She takes seeds as her career and sells them honestly.

Liu Xuehong (L) is examing the seeds. [Photo/bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn]