Nanyang farmer leads path toward agricultural innovation

The classic rags-to-riches story of Liu Zhenfeng has made him somewhat of a folk hero in Nanyang, Henan province.

Starting life as a humble farmer in Nanyang's Xichuan county, Liu decided to try his hand at entrepreneurship by taking advantage of the Internet and tapping into the emerging biotechnology market.

Fast forward a decade of hard work (and a few lucky breaks) and Liu now owns Yicon International Co Ltd and Yikang International Trade Corporation.

Yicon International enjoys a strong brand reputation and employs many local people in Nanyang. It has five subsidiaries that engage in everything from health, financial investment management and alcohol.

While his ambitions have always been lofty, Liu's attitude toward his fellow farmers has remained grounded. He has actively supported the community and the creation of jobs, something the local authorities have been quick to praise.

In June this year, Liu established Yikang Biotechnology Co Ltd in Xichuan, providing much needed job opportunities for local residents.

With many young farmers migrating to more prosperous parts of the country, Liu intended to employ many of the older, less educated farmers in the area by adopting a "three shifts" working schedule. This allows farmers to take on extra work with Liu's company and still have time to farm.

"If we can earn a wage at the same time as we do the farming, that would be great news for us," said a local farmer.

Liu's pioneering deeds has encouraged many farmers to return home to find job opportunities and start their own businesses. This is in accordance with the central government's plan over the next five years to encourage entrepreneurship in the agricultural industry and adjust its structure to stimulate growth.

To this end, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has held a meeting in Zhengzhou on Aug 30 and signed a memorandum to create an environment conducive to entrepreneurship for rural residents in Henan.