Recently, the results of the selection of outstanding alumni of the Open University of China (OUC) were announced, recognising 328 alumni from various industries across the country.
These individuals, with accomplishments as their foundation and technology as their wings, demonstrate resilience, confidence, and a pragmatic, enterprising spirit, writing a unique chapter of progress of the OUC people. From today on, the stories of some alumni will be selected for sharing. By reviewing their outstanding deeds and listening to their life insights, the OUC’s achievements in talent development over the last 45 years are highlighted.
Li Fuqiang studied Agricultural Economic Management at the Open University of China in 2015. He has received numerous honours, including National Model Worker, Outstanding Individual in National Grain Production of the Year, the China Youth May 4th Medal, Model Worker in Heilongjiang Province, one of the 100 Stars of Farmer Entrepreneurship, Model Worker in Bei'an City, and Outstanding Communist Party Member in Heihe City.
In response to the national call for food security as the "ballast", Li Fuqiang, secretary of the Party Branch and chairman of the Bei'an Revolutionary Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative, has been committed to building a high-quality, non-GMO soybean demonstration base in high-latitude cold regions. He has fully demonstrated the practical commitment of Bei'an Party members in the task of stabilising grain and soybean production. Under his leadership, the cooperative has managed 237,000 mu (1 mu is approximately equal to 0.0667 hectares) of farmland that meets the national standards for agricultural green development demonstration, with an annual surplus of over 45 million yuan. This has created employment for more than 500 people and increased farmers' incomes by over 4.6 million yuan. In 2023, the cooperative planted soybeans on an area of 135,000 mu, and the base was designated as a national demonstration base for high-oil and high-fat soybeans.
Daring to explore and innovate, diligent and pragmatic, striving to be the "leader" in enriching farmers
In 2012, Li Fuqiang was among the first to seize the favourable opportunity provided by Heilongjiang Province to support the establishment of agricultural machinery cooperatives. He actively secured agricultural machinery equipment worth 10 million yuan and successfully founded the Revolutionary Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative.
Li Fuqiang took the lead in establishing the core area of the organic rice base in cold regions and the demonstration base for high-quality, non-GMO soybeans in high-latitude cold regions. Academician Gai Junyi of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the chief scientist of the National Soybean Improvement Centre, along with his research team, provided on-site guidance for his non-GMO soybean demonstration base, further improving the quality of soybeans. As a result, the Revolutionary Modern Agricultural Machinery Cooperative was selected as a "National Demonstration Cooperative", and Li Fuqiang was awarded the title of "Soybean King" in Heilongjiang Province. Currently, the cooperative manages 195,000 mu of farmland that meets the national demonstration standards, with an annual sales revenue of over 48 million yuan. It has created jobs for more than 500 villagers and cumulatively increased farmers' incomes by more than 16 million yuan.
Visionary, enterprising and courageous to be a “guide” for sustainable development
Li Fuqiang has vigorously introduced advanced domestic soybean processing equipment, achieving a daily peak production capacity of 300 tons. Through fully automated operations, "human-grain separation" has been realised, ensuring green and safe food processing. During the slack agricultural season, he travels to many advanced ecological agriculture regions across the country to learn and gain experience. He hires professional teams to formulate development plans and successfully transforms the cooperative into a rural complex that integrates "crab tasting, crane watching, sightseeing, and fruit picking" and has a seamless "planting, processing, and marketing" operation. The 10,000-mu crab-rice base within this complex has been rated as a national demonstration base for integrated rice-fish farming.
A well-known grain production enterprise has placed a supply order with the cooperative for 10,000 mu of products at a price 10% higher than the market price, providing the cooperative with a stable annual income increase of 2 million yuan.
Grateful and appreciative, focusing on the overall situation, willing to be the "warm-hearted person" who helps alleviate difficulties
Li Fuqiang has innovatively established a poverty alleviation model based on the cooperative, which includes "bringing capital into the cooperative, cooperative joint operation, shareholding participation, and entrusted management". This has directly led to an annual income increase of over 2,500 yuan for 1,247 impoverished households. He has also formed rural agricultural machinery farming teams and signed poverty alleviation and driving agreements with Jianmin Village and Shuangqing Village in the suburbs, increasing the collective economic income of these two villages by an average of 175,000 yuan per year.
He has actively cultivated a large number of scientific and technological demonstration households who understand agricultural production and can operate agricultural machinery. He has also taken the initiative to support 17 households in difficulty. He regularly visits their homes to help them solve practical difficulties such as seeking medical treatment, purchasing medicine, and winter heating.
With dreams in his heart, Li Fuqiang has carved out his own path to prosperity on the new journey of comprehensive rural revitalisation. In the process of leading people to prosperity, in this new era where Li Fuqiang continuously enhances the people's sense of gain and happiness, he has paved a path of prosperity for the people.
By OUC News Network