The “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” is passed on in Southern Anhui. On October 20, 2019, “SSCLF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton Project Promotion Meeting on Concluding the First Phase and Starting the Second Phase in Southern Anhui” was held in Yi county, Anhui province. At the meeting, 36 cooperatives enthusiastically submitted the application forms, hoping to participate in the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project.

In order to improve the status of needy rural households, and fundamentally overcome the educational difficulties of rural children, the Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation set up the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project in 2013. In the manner of “Teach one how to fish rather than simply give him a fish”, SSCLF has been improving the well-being of the assisted family, encouraging migrant workers to return to their hometowns, and thus entering a virtuous circle of achieving prosperity through hard work. Till now, 30 project sites and 41 projects has been set up in 9 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. Six of these project sites are established in Anhui province, with a total grant of 5.5 million yuan, covering organic rice, organic tea, water bamboo, green tea, glutinous rice, paddy duck and other industries.

More than 100 guests, including directors from over 40 cooperatives and grass-roots cadres taking charge of agricultural and rural works from Huangshan City, Xuancheng City and other counties in Anhui province, attended the meeting. The guests first visited the Yi County Nongyou Cooperative, and then listened to the insights and gains of three guests - project director, household and volunteer who participated in the first phase of the project. As it was introduced, under the leadership of the cooperative director, the average annual income of local project households has grown to 30,000 to 60,000 yuan. Hu Liren, a household from Xin’anyuan Cooperative, expressed his sincere gratitude for the project has lifted him out of poverty and given him a harmonious and happy family. “This is a mutually beneficial cause for all of us,” said Xu Haibo, director of Nongyou Cooperative, based on his own experience.

Becoming aware of the benefits brought by the first phase of the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project, Yi County Nongyou Cooperative, Xiuning Xin’anyuan Tea Farmer Cooperative, and Shucheng County Eastern Grain and Oil Planting Cooperative once again joined hands with SSCLF to sign the intention for the second phase of the project on the spot, striving to help and lead more farmers to prosperity.

The sponsor of the SSCLF’s “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project sincerely welcomed the directors and households who are hardworking, eager for self-development, experienced in relevant cultivation, honest, and willing to help others, to join the project. Witnessing the three cooperatives participating in the first phase were now ready to start the second phase, the cooperative directors who first learnt about the project at the meeting were also eager to try.

In order to make fuller communication, the sponsor of the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project and six directors from cooperatives in Anhui province who have participated in the first phase of the project went on the stage to answer the directors’ questions face to face, with the atmosphere animated and lively. “What are the basic requirements for participating in the project?” “How to avoid risks in the process of the project?” “How to select households in need more effectively?” ... The questioners were urgent while the repliers were sincere, with every single question answered and explained carefully. A deputy director of Xiuning County Agricultural and Rural Water Conservancy Bureau wrote a recommendation for a local cooperative at once; some cooperative directors specially attached their cooperative profiles after the application form as “self-recommendation materials”.  

The staff input intensely, with the intention list constantly becoming longer on the LED screen. Eventually, altogether 36 cooperatives submitted their application forms on the spot, hoping to participate in the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project. Next, SSCLF will keep contact with them and start the preliminary examination procedures.

This event was sponsored by Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation, co-organized by Anhui Provincial Department of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, and undertaken by Anhui Yi County Agricultural and Rural Water Conservancy Bureau. Mrs. Zou Wei, SSCLF’s executive vice chairman, Mr. Qian Dongfang, director of Rural Cooperative Economy Guidance Office of Anhui Provincial Department of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, Mr. Li Zhongjie, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Yi County People’s Congress, leaders from Huangshan and Xuancheng Municipal Bureau of Agricultural and Rural Affairs, and loving partners of SSCLF, attended the meeting.
 

A group photo of all guests attending the meeting

Visiting the Yi County Nongyou Cooperative

The sponsor of the “Farmer Entrepreneurship Relay Baton” Project was making an introduction

Three project directors signed the intention of the second phase on site

Exchanging views on the spot