In order to recognise outstanding women individuals, set examples for the others, and inspire women to cultivate self-respect, confidence, independence, and self-reliance, as well as to encourage them to forge ahead on a new journey and contribute to the new era by actively participating in the modernization of China, the All-China Women's Federation recently held a commemorative event for International Women's Day (March 8th) and an Awards Ceremony in Beijing.
A total of 15 students or graduates from the Open University of China (OUC) system were awarded the “National March 8th Red-Banner Holders”. Let us listen to the inspiring stories behind them.
ZHONG Ying, a graduate of Business Administration at Yueyang Campus of Hunan Branch, is the head of the Linwu Asparagus Planting Farmers’ Cooperative in Yueyang City, Hunan Province.
In December 2009, ZHONG resigned from her managerial position at a state-owned enterprise and dedicated herself to the agricultural services. She led her team to collaborate with various regions in Yueyang, facilitating land transfers and large-scale farming. By adopting biological and physical pest control techniques, she successfully reduced pesticide use and promoted “professional unified prevention and control”. What she did not only modernised Yueyang’s agriculture. but won herself personal accolades that reinforced her commitment to technology-driven farming.
In 2019, Mabu Village, a provincial-level impoverished village, caught ZHONG’s attention. Recommended by the agriculture bureau, she joined hands with the villagers to establish a cooperative and planned a development model of integrating agriculture and tourism. She consolidated fragmented land to grow specialty crops such as lilies and asparagus, and grew a cluster of new, high-quality, and special fruits and vegetables with the help of experts. Over the years, the Linwu brand became well-known, and many crops obtained organic certifications. Mabu Village has undergone a remarkable transformation, with its transportation and supporting facilities improved, and various festivals and cultural events attracting a large number of tourists. The collective economy of the village has increased significantly, and the village itself has been successfully transformed into a model village for rural revitalisation.
In 2022, ZHONG established the Hunan Women’s Science and Technology Demonstration Base, which holds numerous patents and collaborates with universities. That same year, she took on a key role in the Yueyang Women in Science and Technology Association. During her tenure, she actively promoted female participation in the technological field, leading to a significant increase in women’s representation.
In 2024, ZHONG spearheaded the construction of the Yueyang Subtropical Fruit Expo Park. She brought in top expert teams to drive the prosperous growth of Yueyang’s fruit industry. The project base earned numerous honours, including “National Forest Healing Base” and “National Ecological Farm,” while the cooperative became an industry benchmark. ZHONG, as a head, has received multiple awards, including the “China Youth May Fourth Medal” and the “Shennong China Agricultural Science and Technology Award”.
From promoting agriculture through science and technology to integrating agriculture and tourism, from empowering women in science and technology to leading large-scale agricultural projects, ZHONG has always been at the forefront of rural revitalisation. Her story inspires more people to engage in rural construction and contribute to the great goal of rural revitalisation.
Joined Planned by Department of Student Affairs and Teacher Development
Source: Hunan Open University