Huang Xiufen, chairwoman of Guangdong Yabei Agricultural and Sideline Products Co, based in Shaoguan in South China's Guangdong province, has been dedicated to promoting the development of the agricultural industry chain in the city, expanding the market reach of local agricultural products and making the wallets of farmers fuller.

Huang Xiufen, chairwoman of Guangdong Yabei Agricultural and Sideline Products Co and a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), attends the second session of the 14th NPC in March 2024. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Shaoguan, situated at the intersection of Guangdong, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, is recognized as a key agricultural hub of Guangdong. It is celebrated as the "rice bag", "vegetable basket", "fruit tray", and "tea canister" of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Despite its abundant agricultural resources, the city has long faced challenges due to the lack of a comprehensive foreign trade service platform, which has hindered the export of high-quality local produce to broader markets.

With 14 years of experience in the agricultural sector, Huang has remained steadfast in her endeavors to facilitate the expansion of agricultural products into broader markets, narrowing the economic disparities between the northern region of Guangdong and other areas of the Pearl River Delta and improving the livelihoods of local residents.

Having long been engaged in the logistics industry, she is acutely aware of the issues locally, including the information asymmetry between producers and markets, inadequate logistics and sales channels, a fragmented industrial chain and limited marketing capabilities among farmers. These issues have impeded efficient production and distribution, ultimately affecting market competitiveness.

As a rural deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), Huang recognizes the importance of voicing for farmers' interests.

Through field visits, research and direct community interactions , she produced a number of suggestions on building Shaoguan's comprehensive foreign trade service platform, enhancing the city's agricultural export capabilities and improving the national system of agricultural product distribution services to promote high-quality agricultural development, which were adopted by several competent departments.

Huang Xiufen drafts suggestions on improving the living standards of farmers to be submitted to the National People's Congress. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

During the second session of the 14th NPC, Huang's suggestions for establishing a market platform in Guangdong, Hunan and Jiangxi and enhancing logistics infrastructure in the northern region of Guangdong to fortify the "vegetable basket" project in the GBA garnered significant attention from both domestic and international media outlets.

As she continues to advocate for balanced regional development and the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary industries, Huang remains committed to driving agricultural growth in Shaoguan towards a more prosperous future.

In recent years, she has taken the initiative in building an intelligent supply chain management platform, utilizing big data and artificial intelligence technologies to achieve end-to-end monitoring and optimization of agricultural products from cultivation and processing to sales.

Her efforts in establishing the intelligent supply chain management platform and forging strategic partnerships with logistics enterprises have led to notable achievements in expanding the export capacity of Shaoguan's agricultural products.

In 2023, a local enterprise achieved an export value of nearly 100 million yuan ($14.29 million) of edible mushrooms through this platform. Also in last year, Huang's company successfully made its first independent export of Shatian Pomelo to Europe.

Huang Xiufen surveys a local vegetable cultivation base. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Huang envisions a prosperous future for Shaoguan, with its agricultural exports attracting increased investment and fostering sustainable development. By advocating for collaboration between buyers and producers and promoting seamless market integration, she aims to establish a self-sustaining export ecosystem that benefits both local farmers and businesses.

Zeng Zhuo and Li Xiaojian contributed to this story.