Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – This weekend, Ligang Town in Helan County, Yinchuan City, the core area of Ningxia's fishery sector, was bustling with activity as a down-to-earth crab larvae release experience was held as scheduled. Villagers, equipped with aquaculture tools, worked in an orderly fashion, while citizens rolled up their sleeves to experience the fun of releasing larvae. Simultaneously, aquaculture technology consultations and agricultural product exhibitions were also held, filling the air with the vibrant atmosphere of spring farming.
During the event, technical experts, skilled farmers, young students, distributors, and local villagers participated in the release. Holding crab larvae basins, they gently placed the live larvae into the ponds, experiencing the entire ecological farming process firsthand. Many parents brought their children to participate, experiencing aquaculture and the joys of farming in practice, making the event more educational and interactive.
This immersive agricultural activity serves as a vivid microcosm of the currently popular adoption-agriculture and shared farmland models in China. In recent years, new agricultural models represented by "shared farmland and land adoption" have been promoted in many parts of the country. From vegetable gardens and orchards to aquaculture, adopted agriculture is connecting cities and villages, satisfying urban residents' yearning for rural life while injecting new vitality and space into rural revitalization and urban-rural integration.
In Helan County, the diverse ways to enjoy the adoption model have become a new hot spot for spring consumption. The shared vegetable garden launched by the Ningxia Agricultural Tourism Industrial Park, with its zero-threshold farming experience and flexible semi-managed services, has received dozens of inquiries daily since its recruitment began. "Many dual-income families specifically bring their children to till the soil and sow seeds on weekends, not only experiencing the joy of labor but also using it as a natural classroom for parent-child education," a staff member of the park explained.
The tree planting and adoption study camp offered by the local Lan Yi Ecological Park for children aged 6 to 12 is also extremely popular. During Arbor Day, unique features such as planting trees and hanging wish plaques, and awarding environmental protection little guardian certificates allow children to understand nature and responsibility through labor. Registration slots were snapped up as soon as they were released.
Nationwide, innovative business models in agricultural adoption are constantly emerging. Wine-producing regions such as the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains and Yantai, Shandong, are turning grape adoption into a new highlight of cultural tourism integration, offering various packages ranging from single grapevines to customized vineyards. According to Yang Ying, head of a winery in Ningxia, grapevine adopters can participate in the entire process from planting and pruning to harvesting and winemaking, ultimately reaping their own customized wine. "This model not only increases the added value of the product but also attracts a large number of tourists, directly driving the development of surrounding catering, accommodation, and other related businesses," she said.
A review of existing projects reveals that shared farmland projects such as Beijing Chaoyang Guisheng Farm, "Jiangnan Youdiantian" in Yichang, Hubei, and "Wo Zai Kaihui You Qiutian" in Changsha, Hunan, are also highly popular. These projects utilize flexible semi-managed and fully managed operation models, coupled with supporting services such as camping, fishing, and agricultural research, transforming ordinary farmland into comprehensive leisure and experience spaces. Among them, the shared farmland project in Yichang, Hubei, achieved a 100% land adoption rate and a customer renewal rate of nearly 90% within just one year of operation. Furthermore, fruit tree adoption programs in Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Chengdu, Sichuan; and customized vegetable gardens in Zhengzhou, Henan, have further enriched and diversified the forms of agricultural adoption.
The continued rise in popularity of agricultural adoption reflects a deep convergence of urban and rural market demands. Li Xinwei, a resident of Yinchuan, shared her experience participating in an adoption program with reporters: “I’ve adopted a shared vegetable garden for two consecutive years. On weekends, I take my children to tend the garden, watching the seeds sprout and bear fruit. My children have not only learned about more than ten kinds of vegetables, but they’ve also become more patient.” In her view, agricultural experiences are not only a way for urban residents to relax, but also allow young people to build an understanding of natural crops and food production through hands-on labor.
For rural areas, agricultural adoption effectively opens up the channel from farm to table by locking in consumer demand in advance, providing stable expectations for agricultural production and operation. In recent years, Helan County has also used this opportunity to promote the transformation of aquaculture from a scattered traditional model to a large-scale, modern, and full-industry chain approach. Chang Xuefeng, Deputy County Head of Helan County, stated that the adoption of agriculture closely connects urban and rural areas. Relying on its derived agricultural experiences, cultural tourism, and leisure services, it further expands the boundaries of the industry and provides a practical path for the integrated development of rural industries.
From the initial simple land adoption to today's diversified integration of "adoption + experience + cultural tourism + education," the connotation of adoption agriculture has been continuously enriched and expanded. Industry insiders point out that the core value of adoption agriculture lies in building a bridge for urban-rural interaction. In the future, only by continuously leveraging local resource characteristics, constantly enriching business formats, and improving the level of refined services can this model achieve steady and long-term development, providing sustainable impetus for urban-rural integration and the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. (End)
