Cultivating a fascination with farming

The saying "As ye sow, so shall ye reap" is a familiar proverb that encapsulates the idea that our efforts are linked to the outcomes we experience.

Yet, within the intricacies of society, uncertainties and complexities often challenge the expectation of receiving commensurate returns for one's endeavors.

At this point, the veracity of the proverb becomes particularly elusive in certain situations.

However, when we return to its literal roots, grounded in the act of farming, we find that, more often than not, it holds true.

In China, which produces about a quarter of the world's food and feeds more than one-fifth of our planet's population despite having less than 9 percent of Earth's cultivatable land, the proverb takes on rather profound relevance.

In recent years, an increasing number of young urban dwellers across the country are turning to farming or, at the very least, to observing the outdoor lifestyles of farmers, as depicted on the small screen.

Harvesting popularity

This newfound interest in agriculture is made evident through the popularity of the British documentary, Clarkson's Farm.

The show follows television presenter Jeremy Clarkson as he endeavors to run his own farm, providing a humorous and sometimes candid look at the realities of agricultural production. Both seasons of the series have received praise from Chinese viewers, earning a stellar 9.6 out of 10 points on the review site Douban.

In a similar vein, the farming-themed program Become a Farmer stands out as one of the most widely discussed and popular Chinese reality shows in the past year.

The show authentically portrays how a group of individuals in their 20s, who previously worked in the entertainment industry, undergo the complete agricultural process — from sowing seeds and irrigation to fertilization and harvest — on a roughly 10-hectare plot over a 200-day period.

The production unit conducted training sessions for these youths in carpentry, masonry, fire safety and culinary skills. Prior to starting their rural lives, they were required to learn how to operate agricultural machinery, including tractors and rice and corn harvesters.

Going beyond the documentary-style reality show format, the production unit facilitated audience engagement by hosting regular livestreams. The first season of the show included over 100 livestreams, amassing a total viewership exceeding 170 million on Sina Weibo and Douyin. Many netizens actively participate in these livestreams by leaving comments to express their concern about the participants' progress.

Reaping rewards

Central Academy of Drama graduate Zhao Xiaotong was a complete novice to agriculture before joining the program. However, today, the 24-year-old has developed a keen interest in the field.

He even had the opportunity to speak at the 2023 World Agrifood Innovation Conference as a youth representative. His speech focused on "promoting agriculture among young people via new digital media technologies".

"This rustic life experience is particularly valuable for my future work, writing scripts and portraying characters," he says.

One time, on a day with freezing rain and temperatures around — 3 C, the group worked to drain the accumulated water in the rice fields. They immersed themselves in the water and used their bare hands to clear the drainage channels. This experience left a deep impression on Zhao.

"This job requires exhausting and repetitive work, but there is no immediate feedback from the land. In such moments, I felt conflicted internally, pulled to and fro. This emotional struggle helps me understand some roles I might play in the future," he says.

He dreams of creating an original theater play.

"The rustic lifestyle gives me plenty of free time to contemplate and observe everything around me. My ideas are gradually becoming clearer," he says.

For instance, on their farm, they raise livestock and adopt stray dogs. By observing these animals, he has got the idea of creating an interactive play that explores the nature of animals.

Despite the hardships of demanding farm labor, unpredictable weather and other challenging conditions, the participants thoroughly enjoy the satisfaction that comes from solving each problem and the familial bonds they come to share.

Zhao also points out that this period of life has taught him how to stick to his own rhythm.

"Amid the city's constant hum, many people are busy without truly understanding why. But here, we have a clear plan every day, and I know the land will affirm our efforts in the most direct way," he says.

Branching out

Earlier this month, a 10-episode spinoff program inspired by Become a Farmer concluded airing on the video-sharing platform iQiyi.

This derivative show invited the 10 youths to embark on an educational road trip to their respective hometowns. Throughout their travels, they had the opportunity to meet local farmers, experience diverse rural lifestyles and explore agricultural production in different regions.

"Throughout the journey, we encountered many farmers whose professions extend beyond traditional agriculture. Many might also open a guesthouse or run recreational farming businesses," Zhao says.

"In today's era of convenient communication and transportation, there's no need to be confined to a single profession. We have the freedom to explore various pursuits. Agriculture, much like acting, has the potential to become an enduring career for me in the future."

They were also offered a chance to study in China Agricultural University.

"There, we came to understand the rapid development of modern agricultural technology in China," Zhao says.

"However, the lack of suitable platforms for the widespread adoption of many advanced machines and technologies hinders farmers who genuinely need them. We want to promote these new technologies and some superior varieties of crops, making them accessible to a broader group of farmers and fostering greater benefits."

The trip has brought him back to his hometown in Shouguang county, Shandong province, where he learned about the evolution of greenhouses.

"Generations of farmers have been developing and generously sharing these technologies, and I feel proud of them. My connection to my hometown has become even stronger," Zhao says.

Budding interest

Xu Duo, 25, is a young farmer in Shouguang, Shandong province.

Over the past four years, he has grown vegetables — mostly bell peppers — in two large greenhouses.

Despite his background in finance, including studies at Shandong University of Finance and Economics, he made the decision to adopt a lifestyle that would lead to calloused hands and sun-kissed cheeks on a countryside farm, rather than chasing opportunities in major cities like many of his classmates.

Observing him skillfully steer a tricycle to monitor temperatures and harvest vegetables in the greenhouses or occasionally climb up to the roof to arrange the film cover, it's hard to imagine that he was once a "too cool for school" skateboarder.

"Skateboarders are very persistent. Once they commit to something, they are determined to excel at it. They don't treat such things as mere entertainment. I want to be the best in everything I do, and that goes for farming, too."

Besides, he believes that such a rustic life provides him with more free time and fewer limitations, which befits his natural personality.

"This also shows why I love skateboarding," he says.

He also created an account on Douyin, where he shares glimpses of his farming life. To his surprise, people showed great interest in his short videos, and he got 12,000 followers in the first month.

"I aim to amplify the voice of farmers," he says.

Currently, he is active in a program initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture that focuses on teaching new farmers skills that include not just cultivation but also marketing, new media promotion and the like.

"Everything I have today is given to me by the land. I can't imagine life without it," Xu says.

"I don't want to just be a young man who's good at farming. I aspire to be an entrepreneur capable of contributing to the country's improved rural development."

Returning to roots

Similarly, farming led photographer Li Wei — better known as Dameng — who has traveled to many countries, to settle down in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Li was born in 1994 in a remote village in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Yunnan. He traveled extensively after graduating from university, hitchhiking, couch surfing and participating in volunteer programs.

He also supported his travels by documenting his journeys online, which resulted in the publication of two books.

However, the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 forced him to pause his travels and return to his hometown.

"One day, while I was chatting with my grandmother by the window, I suddenly realized there are many words from the local Hani language that I couldn't say, even though they were on the tip of my tongue. Despite studying hard to leave the mountains in my childhood and traveling to so many places as an adult, I unconsciously lost a sense of belonging and identity with my own Hani ethnicity," he recalls.

Therefore, he decided to stay in Yunnan and travel across the province, using his camera and words to document the beautiful landscapes of his hometown and the people stories behind the local produce.

In October 2020, he arrived in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va autonomous county in Yunnan's Pu'er, where he saw avocado orchards covering the mountains.

"I've always loved the color of avocados, and I was moved by the lush greenery covering the mountains. I wanted to stay."

Menglian's climate and terrain are suitable for avocados.

"Since my return to China, I had been thinking about where my future lies, and, at that moment, I vaguely felt that it's here."

Li believes there is room for developing avocado-related businesses in the domestic market, and he could establish a cultural brand based on an avocado farm. Moreover, Menglian is home to many ethnic groups, allowing him to document various cultures.

Soon after, he collaborated with a partner from the Va ethnic group to run the avocado farm and got more than 40 villagers to join in.

"I hope our products convey more emotion."

Rural image

Li often hones his lens to capture the lives of local residents and laborers on the farm. These visually evocative photos are shared on social media and printed on postcards, which he places inside the boxes of fruit he sends to customers.

"I hope this will shorten the temporal and spatial distances between the place of origin and the consumers, allowing each fruit to enjoy the charm of its place of origin."

His avocado farm also cultivates over 30 other products, including peanuts, lemons, coffee beans and macadamia nuts.

Li is dedicated to creating a themed estate called Avocadopia Farm, where visitors can enjoy farming, accommodation, avocado-inspired cuisine, and cultural and creative products.

"It's scheduled to open during the upcoming Spring Festival," he says. "You can tell from the name, I want to build my own utopia."

Now, in Menglian, he has found the "sense of belonging" he was searching for.

"There is the closeness and trust of the people around me, along with a career I want long term. Whenever I find myself feeling lost or filled with self-doubt, I often take off my shoes and step on the soil of the farm," Li says.

"The sense of solidity that comes with it is something I have never experienced before. Every gust of wind, every ray of sunlight on my face, brings a genuine feeling of comfort and tranquility."

Yan Bingjie contributed to this story.