China’s rural libraries changing the way of life

Lack of information and technology hindered poverty reduction in rural China, where farmers have few sources of income. However, this situation is changing thanks to the construction of more than 600,000 libraries in rural areas.

New means for a living

Zhou Xianbao, villager of Shafeng Village, Jiangxi Province in eastern China, was a frequent visitor to the library in his village. Several years ago, he started planting tangerines, but the fruits the plants bore were small and sour. The variety he chose didn’t grow well in the region.

To solve this problem, Zhou read up on different varieties at the library. After finding a suitable one, he planted a total of 0.8 acres. In 2017, he managed to earn more than 60,000 yuan (U.S. $9380).

Zhou’s tangerines, harvested in late August, were sold at 2.4 yuan (U.S. $0.38) per kilogram, while those maturing later, which are harvested in September or October, sell for no more than 1.8 yuan (U.S. $0.28) per kilo.

According to Zhou, the earlier the fruits mature, the higher a price they fetch. This year, Zhou went to the library more often, with hopes of finding varieties that mature even earlier.

E-commerce and added value

To help farmers expand their business channel, training programs were established in Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province to teach them open online stores with computers in libraries.

Yao Zhanghong, villager of Tangcun Village, Anyuan County, used to sell orchids in a physical store at a price of no more than 10 yuan (U.S.$1.6) each seedling. After he opened an online store in the rural library, the same flowers could be sold sometimes at more than 100 yuan (U.S. $16). 

Meanwhile, according to Peng Kaiming, a villager from Gukeng Village in Xunwu County, honey sold locally would barely sell for 40 yuan (U.S. $6) per kilogram, but after going online, where the products reached a wider range of customers who have a higher income, the price rose to 100 yuan (U.S. $16) per kilo. Meanwhile, oranges now sold for 10 yuan (U.S. $1.6) per kilo online, whereas its price was only 4 yuan (U.S. $0.6) offline.

With internet access, Anyuan has opened up more than 1,800 online shops, and over 30,000 of its farmers have taken up e-commerce. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 online stores have been registered in Xunwu, and over 5,000 of its farmers are providing e-business services.

More reading, more possibilities

In 2010, a survey done by Beijing-based Communication University of China found that without adult supervision, as is the case with many children in rural areas whose parents are away for work, young kids tend to watch TV after school rather than read books.

Among the 25 left-behind students surveyed in Nanzheng County, Shaanxi Province, who attended grades one to three, only eight had fairy tale books at home. 

To help shape reading habits after school, reading programs in those libraries were launched to attract more children.

According to one librarian engaged in the program, the initiative has gotten children to read books, draw pictures or do their homework in the library after school instead of goofing off.

Translated by Yan Wenqing