Yang Junlong embarks on path to prosperity through vegetable farming
Yang Junlong worked as a welder before 2018. However, during a visit to his hometown, he noticed a large amount of idle land and the increasing demand for fresh vegetables among city residents, which inspired him to start vegetable farming.
Yang Junlong picks vegetables. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]
Despite skepticism from family and friends, Yang rented three idle greenhouses in the suburbs and moved into a simple house next to them.
Yang knew nothing about farming initially and had poor yields. He bought books on vegetable farming, sought advice from experienced farmers, and joined various online farming communities to learn. He overcame challenges posed by climate and natural disasters by devising his own ventilation and humidity control methods.
The eggplants in his greenhouses grow well. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]
As his farming skills improved, Yang expanded the number of greenhouses and the variety of crops, all grown seasonally without ripening agents or growth enhancers. His vegetables were sold to wholesale markets and local supermarkets, with unstable sales and fluctuating prices.
In 2024, encouraged by a friend, he began filming short videos documenting the entire vegetable farming process. These relatable videos attracted a large following.
Today, Yang has nearly 10,000 online followers, with some even visiting the greenhouses in search of a picking experience. His daily harvest is partly sold through online orders and partly supplied to local communities and restaurants, with sales on the rise.
Yang generously shares his farming techniques and experiences with friends and family. He plans to establish a vegetable farming cooperative to help more people increase their income through greenhouse farming.
Yang aims to continue expanding his farming operations, introduce new varieties, and explore ecological farming models. He also plans to produce more short videos to teach others about farming and build his own vegetable brand.
Vegetables in his greenhouses. [Photo/Hohhot Convergence Media]