Shanghai Daily News

Wang Weidong has been busy recently, more so than usual. His 667-hectare Liangyu Modern Organic Agriculture Base, which is claimed to be the biggest organic plantation in the city, is ready for its first harvest.

Blanketed with waves of golden rice stalks, swaying gently and dancing in the wind, the fields are full of farmers bending down with their sickles and scythes, busy reaping the rewards of the ripe crops. The country roads are packed with farming machinery, combines and trucks and trailers for the harvest operations.

"I hope it will be a bumper season for me," said Wang, looking out of the window and staring into the distance where the golden rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see.

With dark skin from years of long-term exposure to the strong sunlight, it seems hard to picture the 49-year-old Chongming native as a businessman with assets of more than 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million).

For Wang, this organic rice farm is his child, his passion, his ambition.

"I never thought of being engaged in agriculture, dealing with rice shoots, insects, manure and harvest machines all day long," he said with a smile. "But I am the one who likes seeking challenges. Sitting in a stifling office with endless meetings and typing work is definitely not the life I want."

Maybe that is why Wang quit his job as a civil servant with the Chongming County's Xinhe Town 15 years ago to became his own boss.

"I tried many things and this helped me build capital," he said. During those years, he opened a restaurant, invested in real estate, was contracted to run a canteen and even established a driving school in 2000 on the remote island.

The year 2004 could be considered a turning point. That year, Wang invested almost all of his money to set up his Liangyu Modern Agriculture Development Co Ltd.

"I remember that year clearly as President Hu Jintao came to Chongming and pointed out that realizing the agricultural modernization should become the basis of the county's development; I suddenly felt an opportunity," Wang said, slightly clutching his fist.

With the help of the local government, Wang set up his organic food base in the central northern part of the island near the Yangtzi River. "It was originally a fish pond, but within four months we successfully turned it into farmland where I planted organic rice."

When speaking of his farm and its produce, Wang becomes more talkative about his passion. It is obvious he has put a great deal of time and effort into the agriculture base.

"Before 2004, I considered myself a mere speculator and a trend follower; but after that, I regarded myself as a real entrepreneur," he said with pride. "I have found my niche on this organic farm where I can do something really big."

His blueprint for success unfolded gradually. "I can say my farm is the best in the city, even in the country," he boasted. "It is equipped with the most advanced techniques and ecological concepts. It is totally different from other organic farms of its kind."

In his boundless rice fields, his guards - in this case, 6,000 ducks and 40,000 frogs - are in charge of eating insects. In addition, 152 solar-powered lights work as pest killers during the night.

Wang explained that organic rice was superior to regular varieties and was more nutritious and tasty.

"It is high in insoluble and easily digestible dietary fiber; it is the first choice for today's health-conscious consumers. It is grown and processed without the use of any synthetic chemicals that are found in fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, preservatives, seed treatments, hormones and other products."

Wang said he was optimistic and ambitious about the future.

"While currently not many can afford to eat our rice which is expensive for ordinary people, I believe it's a trend in the future years. Just wait and see," he said with a smile.

Wang is definitely not a man who is easy to satisfy. In his tightly-packed timetable, a 333-hectare tourist resort project is being built in the southwest part of the county.

"Ambitious and aggressive, like they say," Wang said with confidence. "But it's my way to do something for my homeland."