Discussing development, solving challenges, and promoting revitalization... Recently, a unique symposium was held in the conference room of the Municipal Evergreen Garden. Sixteen veteran science and technology experts from the municipal “Dual Hundred” initiative gathered to summarize achievements, share experiences, and plan future work. According to reports, in the second half of last year alone, the municipal veteran science and technology expert group conducted 13 rural assistance activities, providing on-site guidance to villagers to address agricultural technology challenges. They also conducted research on common issues in key industries such as agriculture and forestry in Lishui City, offering proactive suggestions and recommendations.

One veteran expert drives the revitalization of an industry, while a group of veteran experts propels regional economic development.

Since 2008, the Municipal Organization Department and the Municipal Working Committee for Caring for the Next Generation have jointly launched the “Hundred Veteran Science and Technology Experts Linking with Hundred Villages” initiative (referred to as the “Dual Hundred” initiative). Over the years, veteran science and technology experts across the city have utilized the “Dual Hundred” platform to focus on central tasks, serve the broader agenda, and actively participate in the construction of a new socialist countryside. They have extensively carried out activities such as delivering technology, information, policies, and services, making significant contributions to enhancing agricultural efficiency, rural development, and farmer prosperity in areas such as agricultural and forestry planting techniques, livestock breeding skills, rural ecological environment protection, and rural industrial planning.

To date, Lishui City has registered 111 “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology experts, who have partnered with 184 linked villages (agricultural leading enterprises and projects). Among these, 39 new linked villages were added in 2024, jointly supported by municipal and county-level veteran science and technology experts.

Technology to the countryside: serving as a “catalyst” for revitalization and development

“Master Dou, the market prices for varieties like Sunshine Rose have been consistently low. You might consider trying new varieties next year, such as Shaoxing No. 9, which matures early and has a good market...” On January 8, veteran science and technology experts Hu Ziguang, Li Xiongjun, and others visited the Dou Family Farm in Xiaoxiandu Village, Dongdu Town, Jinyun County, to “diagnose” the farm’s development.

Farm owner Dou Zhentu has been growing grapes since 2009, now covering more than 50 acres with annual sales exceeding 500,000 yuan. “The veteran science and technology experts regularly visit to provide on-site guidance, not only teaching us techniques and pest control but also bringing the latest cutting-edge information,” Dou Zhentu explained. Today, Xiaoxiandu Village has developed more than 20 fruit-growing households, with a total planting area of over 700 acres, making fruit cultivation a local specialty and a prosperous industry.

Industrial revitalization is the cornerstone of rural revitalization, and the innovation, development, and dissemination of science and technology are key to industrial revitalization. Focusing on the idea of “what the people need, we provide”, the veteran science and technology experts of the “Dual Hundred” initiative have delved into grassroots levels, traversing vast rural fields to bring unique “technology classrooms” to fields, agricultural enterprises, and project bases.

Since last year, diverse technology assistance activities have been vigorously carried out across Lishui. Longquan City organized 82 “Dual Hundred” service delivery activities, with experts visiting various villages to bring advanced planting techniques and management experience to farmers. Jinyun County distributed over 3,100 copies of materials on agricultural production and management, agricultural product safety, and elderly health knowledge, providing valuable information and guidance to farmers. Suichang County conducted more than 30 technical training sessions, training over 2,860 participants, equipping farmers with more scientific planting and breeding methods through systematic training.

Under the meticulous guidance and heartfelt assistance of the veteran science and technology expert group, practical challenges in agricultural production across the city have been effectively resolved, and the benefits of numerous industries have steadily increased.

The Yunhe County “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology expert group conducted snow pear cultivation training for villagers, resulting in an additional 4,000 acres of snow pear cultivation. The average yield per unit area of snow pears reached over 2,000 jin (a unit of weight =12 kilogram), with the Sukeng Pear Orchard yielding over 6,000 jin per unit area, bringing substantial profits to fruit farmers.

The Songyang County “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology expert group actively guided tea farmers in the rational use of bio-bacterial fertilizers and commercial organic fertilizers, successfully reducing chemical fertilizer use by about 20% per mu while increasing tea yield by 15%. This not only improved tea quality but also reduced production costs, enhancing the competitiveness of Songyang tea in the market.

The Liandu District “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology expert group made every effort to revitalize old loquat areas such as Taxia and Xiaomuxi, conducting extensive surveys and providing planting technical guidance. Today, the white loquat planting area has reached over 5,000 acres, becoming an important pillar for local farmers' income growth.

Project assistance: serving as “planners” on the path to common prosperity

Rural development is not only about solving “point” issues but also requires guidance and planning on a “surface” level.

“Our village is known as the ‘First Village of Jinyun Pancakes’, with over 300 people engaged in the pancake industry outside the village. Many villagers have gone out to seek wealth, but this has indirectly led to a lack of vitality in the village’s industrial development,” said Fan Haiqiang, Party Secretary of Daishi Village, Dongfang Town, Jinyun County. Based on local conditions, the paired veteran science and technology expert Zheng Jianqiang has conducted multiple on-site inspections.

“Daishi Village has much potential, especially in increasing operational income,” Zheng Jianqiang suggested. On one hand, the village introduced a 285-acre pig farming project through land transfer and built an 800-cubic-meter cold storage. On the other hand, leveraging existing industries such as chestnuts, the village vigorously developed under-forest economy. Last year, the village’s collective economic income reached over 1.6 million yuan, with operational income exceeding 1.2 million yuan, and it was rated as a provincial-level red root and strong foundation demonstration village.

Since the inception of the “Dual Hundred” initiative, the veteran science and technology expert group has focused on rural leading industries, actively participating in the construction of “Common Prosperity Workshops”. Guided by projects from agricultural and forestry departments, they have provided technological assistance and technical guidance. By advancing project progress and rationally planning the allocation of project funds, they have injected strong momentum into rural economic development.

In Longquan City, veteran science and technology experts, in collaboration with agricultural and rural departments, have actively promoted research and dissemination of rice regeneration technology. They have provided technical support in areas such as variety selection, sowing time, bud-promoting fertilizer use, first-season rice harvesting, and stubble height, contributing to food security and sustainable agricultural development. In November of last year, the 2.55-acre high-yield field in the 350-acre regenerative rice demonstration base of Chen Zhenghua, a major grain grower in Xiabao Village, Chatian Town, achieved a remarkable yield of 914 jin per unit area in the regenerative season.

In Songyang County, leveraging the Shuangtong Snow Accumulation Family Farm, veteran science and technology experts explored an ecological three-dimensional tea and torreya planting model, achieving a win-win situation in economic, social, and ecological benefits. This has effectively driven the development of industrial clusters, increased rural employment opportunities, and raised the average household labor income by over 10,000 yuan.

With the heartfelt assistance of veteran science and technology experts, the Qingtian County Old Tea Tree Family Farm innovatively introduced an ecological cycle model of “chickens in tea gardens”. They established an ecological smart tea garden tea-picking experience area and set up an agricultural product knowledge popularization education and training center, guiding surrounding tea farmers toward high-quality, high-yield, efficient, and ecologically safe development.

In Suichang County, forestry veteran science and technology experts actively integrated into the comprehensive pilot project of the common prosperity chain of the torreya industry. They played a positive role in achieving the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in the torreya sector, aiming to build a “10,000 mu, 100 million yuan” torreya industry in Suichang.

Passing the torch: serving as “guiding beacons” for the youth

In the new journey of rural revitalization, young talents are indispensable. Veteran science and technology experts are well aware of this and have turned their attention to rural youth, sharing experiences, offering professional help, and providing work guidance to lead the way for new farmers.

Zhang Yajing, a “post-90s” female college student and retired soldier from Songyang County, is one such example. In 2016, Zhang returned to her hometown to establish an ecological free-range chicken farm. However, due to insufficient breeding technology in the early stages, frequent chicken deaths caused significant losses. Just as she was in distress, the “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology experts proactively extended a helping hand, providing comprehensive assistance and guidance. From building chicken coops and administering vaccines to feed formulation and disease prevention, they taught her step-by-step and supported her wholeheartedly. Under the careful guidance of the veteran experts, Zhang not only gradually mastered scientific breeding techniques and achieved personal entrepreneurial success but also led surrounding communities on the path to increased income. She was honored as an outstanding individual in the “Dual Leadership” rural youth wealth creation initiative by the China Care for the Next Generation Working Committee.

There are many rural “Dual Leadership” youths like Zhang Yajing who have grown under the guidance of “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology experts. Among them, four paired youths from the “Dual Hundred” initiative have been awarded the title of outstanding individual in the “Dual Leadership” rural youth wealth creation initiative by the China Care for the Next Generation Working Committee.

Moreover, veteran science and technology experts are deeply concerned about youth science education and actively engage in the education of the next generation.

In Qingtian County, the “Science Popularization Mobile Van”, like a treasure-filled train, has driven into primary and secondary schools in towns such as Haixi Township, Haikou Town, Zhenbu Township, and Gaoshi Township. Veteran science and technology experts have brought fascinating science lectures to children, explaining the mysteries of science in simple language and through interesting experiments. They have also donated over 1,400 science education books. In Suichang County, “Dual Hundred” veteran science and technology experts have helped establish a youth traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) science education base. They personally guided students from Jinzhu Primary School in planting medicinal herbs, allowing them to learn TCM knowledge and planting techniques through practice, promoting the inheritance and development of TCM culture in schools.

“In the ‘Dual Hundred’ initiative, the veteran science and technology expert group has interpreted the ‘Five Olds’ spirit through practical actions, earning widespread social acclaim and numerous honors. At the recent meeting commemorating the 35th anniversary of the provincial Care for the Next Generation Working Committee, the Lishui Municipal ‘Dual Hundred’ veteran science and technology expert group was awarded the title of ‘Outstanding Collective in Zhejiang Province’s Care for the Next Generation Work.’ Six veteran science and technology experts—He Jianqing, Wang Gengyin, Zhang Jianzhang, Lin Tongzhang, Hu Ziguang, and Wu Shixin—were awarded the title of ‘Outstanding Individual in Zhejiang Province’s Care for the Next Generation Work,’” said a relevant official from the Municipal Care for the Next Generation Working Committee. “Moving forward, we will further improve the ‘Three Services, Three Linkages, Three Enhancements’ working mechanism, supporting veteran experts in continuing to contribute their expertise and providing strong support for rural revitalization and common prosperity.”