Hong Kong youth bring farm hopes to Guangdong

As there were no aquaponics farms in Guangdong, the team's work was initially based on data methods they learned from farms overseas.

The initial results were a far cry from expectations.

The trio conducted frequent analyses of local soil conditions and climates. After significant research over the course of three years, they were able to accumulate a great deal of data related to aquaponics in the environment of southern China.

The region-specific approaches developed by the team increased annual output by 206 percent and cut variable costs by 83 percent, greatly improving the results seen from copying techniques used in different environments elsewhere in the world. "Agricultural technology must be pragmatic, durable and cost-efficient," Lo said.

They now manage a 300,000-sq-m farm in Jiangmen and first turned a profit in 2020, producing 1,000 tons of vegetables and about 475 tons of rice annually.

Their farm has also been officially designated as a vegetable production center for Hong Kong and Macao.

Along the way, they have endured challenges. On one occasion, a typhoon caused severe damage to the farm, and later, COVID-19 epidemic controls made it impossible to sell produce to Hong Kong. But Lo was steadfast in his determination to pursue his dream.

"I feel a great sense of accomplishment, because now we sell green, high-quality staples to many people," Lo said, adding that he is very proud to be a modern farmer.

He said that people should develop a better understanding of what country life and the agricultural industry are like these days.

"A few of my friends laughed at me at first for throwing myself into farming, but their attitudes are gradually changing now," Lo said. "Some villages on the mainland are very clean and beautiful, and offer all kinds of leisure activities. I can live a comfortable and healthy life here."

More importantly, he believes the rural market offers great potential for development, especially as China now attaches great importance to rural vitalization.