Branching out

Earlier this month, a 10-episode spinoff program inspired by Become a Farmer concluded airing on the video-sharing platform iQiyi.

This derivative show invited the 10 youths to embark on an educational road trip to their respective hometowns. Throughout their travels, they had the opportunity to meet local farmers, experience diverse rural lifestyles and explore agricultural production in different regions.

"Throughout the journey, we encountered many farmers whose professions extend beyond traditional agriculture. Many might also open a guesthouse or run recreational farming businesses," Zhao says.

"In today's era of convenient communication and transportation, there's no need to be confined to a single profession. We have the freedom to explore various pursuits. Agriculture, much like acting, has the potential to become an enduring career for me in the future."

They were also offered a chance to study in China Agricultural University.

"There, we came to understand the rapid development of modern agricultural technology in China," Zhao says.

"However, the lack of suitable platforms for the widespread adoption of many advanced machines and technologies hinders farmers who genuinely need them. We want to promote these new technologies and some superior varieties of crops, making them accessible to a broader group of farmers and fostering greater benefits."

The trip has brought him back to his hometown in Shouguang county, Shandong province, where he learned about the evolution of greenhouses.

"Generations of farmers have been developing and generously sharing these technologies, and I feel proud of them. My connection to my hometown has become even stronger," Zhao says.