International students are discovering how innovation and tradition intertwine in China's countryside through a unique urban agriculture and cultural immersion program organized by Shanghai Ocean University.
Over 20 students from countries including Ghana, Senegal, Bangladesh and Pakistan visited a national-level eco-orchard in Shanghai's Qingpu district on June 3.
International students visit a national-level eco-orchard in Shanghai's Qingpu district on June 3. [Photo/Shanghai Ocean University]Cutting-edge solutions such as overhead trellis systems and micro-sprinkler irrigation help reduce water usage by over 90 percent in fruit production at the orchard.
Bangladeshi student Esther Baroi tried her hand at operating a lawn mower across the orchard rows, experiencing firsthand the convenience of smart agricultural machinery.
Bangladeshi student Esther Baroi tries her hand at operating a lawn mower across the orchard rows. [Photo/Shanghai Ocean University]Nearby, Muhammad Asif from Pakistan picked peaches and grapes, learning how to evaluate fruit quality by shape, color and smell.
International students are taught by the orchard owner to evaluate fruit quality based on shape, color and smell. [Photo/Shanghai Ocean University]This place combines high efficiency with a deep respect for nature, said Ikrom Kodirov, an Uzbek student. The integration of technology and ecology represents the future of agriculture.
Scientific breeding at the orchard has extended the harvest period of over 70 peach varieties from a traditional 20 days to as long as 120 days, reshaping the production calendar. Soil organic matter has also increased significantly, from just 1 percent in 2011 to 3 percent now.
The orchard has shared its plant varieties and cultivation models with more than 23 provinces and cities across China, boosting agricultural productivity nationwide.
The second stop led the group to a village in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, where rural vitalization is powered by traditional craftsmanship.
Students visited a gourd cultivation base and observed how vines are transformed into intricate works of art by pyrography and carving techniques.
As students tried their hands at gourd lacquer painting, agribusiness master's student Yao Xiangbin said: Each gourd tells a unique story. It's amazing how culture is being converted into economic value.
Back in the fields, the students engaged in local farming activities and learned how the village has embraced a model combining gourd cultivation, cultural tourism and homestay development.
The village welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year, and average annual income per resident has increased by 30 percent, said a village committee official. We've adopted blockchain technology to transfer idle rural housing land-use rights, generating over 50,000 yuan ($6,900) per household annually.
Bortey Nketia Alabi-Doku from Ghana said, This village not only preserves its traditions but also revitalizes its economy through modern technology. This is a model of sustainable development.
Source: Shanghai Ocean University
原文链接：Intl students explore China's rural vitalization through modern agriculture (shanghai.gov.cn)
