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Urban Chinese Explore Rural Markets
If Huang Zhijun did not quit his job in south China's Guangdong Province and go to the countryside, he would have found himself still struggling with other urban dwellers for a small apartment after graduating from college several years ago.
But now Huang is an owner of an orchard, which sold more than 30,000 fruit tree samplings and 1,000 kg cash fruits this year. At a conference for ordering non-staple agricultural produce in Gaozhou in Guangdong, China's major fruit grower, Huang was busy seeking buyers for his 5,000 kg of longans that are going to be harvested in October.
"The rural sector has provided me better prospects financially than the cities," said that young man.
Like Huang, many young talented people from the city are looking to China's rural and coastal provinces. These highly educated people are expected to greatly invigorate the rural economy.
According to a survey of 20 townships in the Pearl River Valley in Guangdong, only 4.2 percent of young people there have obtained a higher education.
"In order to transform the rural sector from traditional farming to one of industrialized agriculture, talented professional are in great demand," said Wan Qingliang, director with the Guangdong Youth Federation.
He said that in China's fast developing provinces such as Henan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong, many young people have become successful in establishing their own farm-related businesses. They have turned out to be pioneers in introducing advanced elements into the rural business.
In Zhongshan City, six college graduates who went to Zhangxi Village to seek their fortune bought seven computers and solicited investments and potential projects via the Net.
As the Chinese government is encouraging the rural sector, more talented Chinese will make their way to the countryside, said Wang Chunguang, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
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