Villagers pick okras in Fengfei village, Haimen, on June 12. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

A vast okra field in Fengfei village, Haimen is now entering harvest season. More than 500 kilograms of okra have been sold out over the past week, local media reported on June 12.

"The more money the farm makes, the more money in our pockets," said Zhang Meifang, a local farmer, who has managed to increase her income by working on the farm and lending her land to the farm's operator at the same time.

Such cooperative farms became a new force for rural development in Haimen in 2018 and have developed a diverse array of operational models, mainly involving rice, wheat, soy beans, corn, vegetables, and fruits.

The farms have also introduced technological facilities to ensure high quality agricultural products, according to Shi Chunwei, Party secretary of the village.

Following the example set by Fengfei village, Ruifeng village also boosted its economy by setting up a cooperative farm for vegetable and fruit production in 2019. The farm covers an area of 107 mu (7.14 hectares) and is equipped with greenhouse facilities. 

To develop its own agricultural brand, the village also worked with a local agricultural research institute to cultivate a new type of melon, which won the top award at a provincial melon event in 2020.

As the farms' development is still in the early stages, the government of Haimen has offered an array of subsidies to partly cover insurance fees and operating costs.