Hebei farmers gain from modern cultivation skills

For more than three decades, Liu Suyun has worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, promoting modern forestry and fruit cultivation techniques. Through patient guidance and hands-on training, she has helped farmers improve both the quality and yield of their produce, turning orchards into a source of income while contributing to rural vitalization and regional ecological protection efforts.

Liu, 56, now serves as a senior engineer at the forestry bureau of Shexian county in Handan city, Hebei province, and is a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

She began working in Shexian county in 1992 and remains rooted on the front lines of grassroots forestry work, from forest conservation and pest monitoring to quarantine management and fruit cultivation, safeguarding the sweeping forests of the Taihang Mountains.

"Over time, I grew an inseparable bond with this land in this area. Today, my purpose is clear: to develop the region's forestry and fruit industries, helping local people turn the mountains' natural resources into a steady source of income," Liu said.

Shexian county is home to about 106,000 hectares of forested land, where crops such as Sichuan pepper, black dates and walnuts are widely cultivated. For years, however, the region has struggled with extensive management practices and low production efficiency.

To alleviate these challenges, Liu has spent years working in the fields, providing technical guidance through simple, practical methods.

"From a professional standpoint, forestry technology is built on a systematic set of fundamental theories, but it must be applied and refined in the field," Liu said. "For tree management, I combined textbook knowledge with hands-on work alongside my colleagues. Only by mastering the techniques myself could I translate them into practical methods and clear language that local farmers could grasp and apply immediately."

"Through years of hands-on experience, I have developed practical insights and compiled them into plain technical guides. More recently, I have begun creating short instructional videos to share via WeChat, making it even easier for everyone to learn," Liu said.

Over the years, she has trained more than 30,000 people in forestry and fruit cultivation techniques and nurtured over 200 skilled farmers. She has also led the completion of more than 56 modern forestry and fruit industry projects, establishing about 4,333 hectares of high-yield demonstration bases.

Her efforts have increased the income of more than 60,000 households, with each person earning, on average, an additional 3,400 yuan ($492) annually.

In addition, Liu and her colleagues have voluntarily carried out a comprehensive survey of ancient and notable trees, forest pests and grassland germplasm resources across the county since 2009. They collected more than 20,000 specimens and took over 40,000 photographs, laying a solid foundation for understanding and managing local forestry resources.

"During the survey, stumbling upon ancient trees tucked deep in the mountains, oddly shaped insects, and previously unseen flora and fauna filled us with excitement and awe. Uncovering these unique wonders and creating a clear baseline of resources keeps us motivated to trek through the hills and forests — knowing that even more discoveries may lie ahead," she said.

Serving as a female NPC deputy carries significant responsibility, Liu said that it requires staying attuned to the concerns of the people in daily work and helping address the challenges they face. As society advances, more women are entering the workforce and stepping into leadership roles, taking on greater social responsibilities, she noted.

liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn