Editor's note: In the battle with the COVID-19 epidemic, more and more fighters are coming to its front lines, including students and former students of the Open University of China (OUC). Like other fighters, no matter how ordinary, they are contributing what they can. Let's take a close look at some of their stories.

In early 2020, a novel coronavirus epidemic broke out in Wuhan, China. Huang Xin, head of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative in Guangshan County, Henan Province, and a student in the “Long March Belt” programme, autumn 2019 class, at the Open University of China (OUC), is doing his best to contribute to the fight against it.

Helping poor households sell agricultural products

In order to control the spread of the epidemic, governments at all levels have restricted movement in various ways, making it difficult for many poor households to sell their agricultural products. To help find a solution, Huang Xin, as party member and village cadre, began to assist them with selling overstocked agricultural products, purchasing vegetables, cabbages, radishes and other fresh vegetables from them at fair value, and helping strawberry growers sell cream-flavored strawberries in his own online shop. So far he has helped farmers sell more than 10 kinds of agricultural products, weighing 2,500 kg and bringing in 45,000 yuan.

The Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative in Guangshan County purchased vegetables from needy households and sent them to front-line staff fighting the epidemic.

Huang Xin collecting agricultural products from farmers.

Providing a free network-based live lecture on crayfish-breeding technology

After the Spring Festival, crayfish breeders were set to return to work, but prevented by current circumstances from doing so. In order to compensate for this, Huang Xin decided to set up a live online class to teach crayfish-breeding technology, and the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative made preparations to ensure the farmers would be able to watch the live broadcast smoothly. The course has been successful in teaching this technology, and the details crayfish farmers need to attend to. In this way, the needs of both safety and of agricultural production are being met.

The Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative in Guangshan County provided a live broadcast covering crayfish-breeding technology, and the details farmers need to attend to.

Establishing the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative COVID-19 prevention-and-control office

The COVID-19 prevention-and-control office of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative held a WeChat video conference for employees to both ensure that they would stay home and give instructions related to disease control. An Epidemic Care Team has been set up by the cooperative to conduct health assessments of employees and provide masks to migrant workers staying nearby, so as to ensure overall physical and mental well-being. The cooperative has also fully disinfected the office and production area.

Members of the Epidemic Care Team of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative disinfecting a village.

Mobilising employees to volunteer

In view of the seriousness of the situation in Hefan Village, and lack of cadres on the two village committees, the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative boldly took on responsibility. Huang Xin, along with employees of the cooperative, has helped man checkpoints in Hefan Village, organised disinfection of villagers, and distributed information about the new disease.

Members of the Epidemic Care Team of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative working shifts with members of the two committees of Hefan Village.

Members of the Epidemic Care Team of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative distributing information in a village.

Donating money and materials

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Huang Xin has urged employees of the Xinlei Agricultural Cooperative to donate money to the Henan Charity Federation, and rice, vegetables and fruit to the Nanxiangdian Township People's Government, Hefan Village, the neighborhood committee, and volunteers fighting the epidemic, with total donations reaching 5,000 yuan.

By OUC News Network