A rural campsite in Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The Zhejiang Provincial Agricultural Innovators Development Association recently unveiled the first list of demonstration bases of 2023, which includes three in Huzhou – Zhejiang Linglong Ecological Agriculture Co Ltd., Zhejiang Celefish Agricultural Technology Co Ltd, and Deqing Fengxiao Family Farm.

Huzhou now boasts a total of 10 such demonstration bases and is home to nearly 5,000 agricultural innovators and over 400 rural entrepreneurial teams.

Agricultural innovators, or farming entrepreneurs, are individuals below the age of 45 who take charge as leaders or stakeholders of farmer cooperatives, agricultural enterprises, family farms, or other agricultural production and operation entities.

Shen Qi, general manager of Fengxiao Family Farm, has been engaged in rural commerce for a decade. Through more than 10 online stores and numerous production bases and processing factories, Shen's farm products have held the top spot in online sales for three consecutive years.

Huzhou has established an agricultural innovators development association to help young people find employment and engage in entrepreneurship in rural areas. Over the past year, the association has collaborated with financial institutions to successfully resolve 631 funding issues for innovators, with a total credit amounting to 635 million yuan ($88.65 million).