After the big grower turned into a family farmer-- the key to development

Editor's note

A few days ago, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in his speech at the Food and Agriculture Organization that it is necessary to rely on family management to promote agricultural modernization. On the basis of household management, promoting moderate scale operation and developing modern agriculture will not only help to better "feed China", but also contribute to world food security. Thus it can be seen that family farm has become an important force and development direction of agricultural modernization. However, the uncertainty of land transfer cycle, labor scarcity and financing difficulties affect the further development of family farms. Our reporter came to Danling County, Sichuan Province and conducted an in-depth investigation on the development of the family farm, which brought Danling's experience and confusion to readers. I hope to share it with readers and give them advice.

Liu Zigang is the first person to "eat crabs" in Danling County, Sichuan Province. On March 26 last year, he was the first to get the industrial and commercial license of the family farm and officially turned from a big grower to a family farmer. Today, Danling County has nearly 100 registered family farms, which are distributed in fruit, tea, rattan pepper, forestry, breeding and other fields, but more than 70% of them have been transformed from large growers. Also as a new type of business body, why do big growers turn to family farmers one after another? What's the story behind the choice? What opportunities and challenges are family farmers facing? The reporter conducted an investigation.

Why do you want to be a farmer?

For 40-year-old Liu Zigang, the desire to be a farmer sprouted as early as 10 years ago. In 2004, through layers of selection, he went to work on a family farm in Japan, saw the fine management and scientific farming techniques of the Japanese family farm, and marveled at the annual benefits of a small family farm. "I was so excited to learn that the central government encouraged the development of family farms that I went to the county bureau for industry and commerce the next day to consult and go through the formalities." Liu Zigang said.

If Liu Zigang's affection for the family farm stems from his experience of studying abroad, then for Xie Lin, it is a more realistic identity choice. Xie Lin, who is in his 30s, is industrious and capable and does a good job in the wholesale clothing business. In 2012, he persuaded his family to return to his hometown to start a business and transferred nearly 300 mu of land to build a vineyard.

The friend joked: "you are back to be a farmer again!" Schelling does not agree with this. "from the transfer of land and the construction of agricultural facilities to the purchase of seedlings and agricultural materials, we have invested millions of yuan, which is no less than the capital scale of a small and medium-sized enterprise." He was unconvinced and planned to register a company, but he hesitated when he learned that the family farm could also obtain the legal entity status through industrial and commercial registration. "the family farm gives us a new identity." Mr Schelling says that after much deliberation, he gave up the idea of registering a company and became a family farmer.

Old Locke, who has been growing grapes for more than a decade, was pushed into the ranks of farmers by his daughter Meilin. In 2013, Meilin, who graduated from a key university, resolutely quit her job despite her parents' opposition and went around to learn skills, determined to make her parents' grape career bigger and stronger. While delving into viticulture techniques, the 27-year-old girl is also very concerned about agricultural policy.

Persuading parents to register for a family farm shows Luo Meilin's ability to judge policy. On June 17, 2013, the Comey family farm was officially registered. On the same day, the Danling County Party Committee and the government issued the "implementation opinions on vigorously developing Family Farm" (hereinafter referred to as "opinions"), which clearly allocated 2 million yuan from the county agricultural development funds for the development of family farms, and clarified the registration conditions of family farms from the main qualifications, business scale and other aspects.

Under the guidance of the policy, the number of family farm registrations in Danling County continued to grow in the second half of 2013, much faster than policy makers expected. According to the development goals set by the opinions, more than 10 family farms will be cultivated in 2013, more than 50 in 2015 and more than 100 in 2017. But so far, Danling has registered nearly 100 family farms, more than 70% of which come from large growers.

"the policy has stimulated the release of the talent reserve in the early stage." Guo Hong, deputy secretary of the Danling County CPC Committee and head of the family farm leading group, believes that based on the adjustment of the agricultural industrial structure in Danling County over the years, a certain number of large growers have been cultivated, and these new professional farmers have not only mastered advanced planting technology. and its ability to accept policies has been underestimated.

2 what else is changing besides identity?

After industrial and commercial registration, large growers have become family farmers. Apart from identity, what else has changed? "the train of thought is clear!" Xie Lin said that the moment he held the industrial and commercial registration license, he had a new understanding of the future development.

At Schelling's Green run Family Farm, the straight and wide machine tillage road is already lush, grape vines wind along the stents above the road, and high-end grapes such as beauty fingers and roses have gradually matured, hanging down from the layered vines. Pedestrians can taste the fragrance when they raise their hands. "Leisure picking" will be one of the main businesses of Luzhirun. Pointing to the other end of the vineyard, Schelling told reporters, "the next step is to get the food on the horse quickly in order to keep the guests who come for leisure picking."

"Family farms are different from big growers, and our business format should be more RMB." The idea came out when he first touched the steel seal on the license, Mr. Schelling said. Coincidentally, Luo Meilin, who has the same idea, has made a schedule and plans to move Chongqing hot pot into the vineyard this coming winter.

In addition to the business philosophy, in Guo Hong's view, another most direct change is that his legal personality has brought a more favorable market position. "Family farms registered through legal procedures have stronger credibility than large growers, which will bring new opportunities for the brand construction of Danling agricultural products." Guo Hong said.

Danling County, which is mainly based on shallow hilly landforms, adjusted its industrial structure earlier, forming superior industries such as fruit, silkworm and tea forests. the area of cash crops reached 350000 mu, more than half of the county area. Although the industrial scale continues to expand, it suffers from no brand. Most products can only enter the wholesale market at a low price. The brand creation of the family farm is also listed as an important goal in the opinion. However, in the face of large circulation and big market, how can family-based business units create brands?