Shen Changjian, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), is revered as "king of oilseed rape" in his village of Baiyun in Linli county, Central China's Hunan province.

 Emerging from the fields, he has dedicated over 30 years to the research of oilseed rape, focusing on developing super hybrid varieties to boost the livelihoods of local residents.

The journey of Shen and his father with oilseed rape began over 40 years ago in a serendipitous moment in Southwest China's Guizhou province. His father witnessed the exceptional growth of wild oilseed rape plants and envisioned creating a new variety in Hunan to address the scarcity of edible oil in their hometown.

Ever since, Shen and his father dived into the world of oilseed rape. Facing financial constraints and a lack of expertise, Shen sought guidance from experts like Fu Tingdong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Huang Song, a professor at the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Despite being ridiculed by locals, who didn't believe a farmer could conduct scientific research, Shen and his father remained undeterred, focusing wholeheartedly on their project.

Their efforts paid off in 2004, when the "Guiye A" variety they bred was granted a national invention patent. In 2014, Shen successfully cultivated "Shen Hybrid Oilseed Rape No 1," a high-yielding and collapse-resistant variety that is suitable for mechanized sowing and harvesting.

In 2016, 43.8 grams of hybrid rape seeds he developed were carried aboard the Shenzhou-XI spacecraft, making it the first farmer-bred oilseed rape variety to reach space.

In addition, Shen has developed over 20 varieties of colorful rape flowers. The new oilseed rape varieties bred by Shen have been promoted nationwide, achieving high yields and oil content.

"Making money for myself isn't enough; true prosperity comes from helping impoverished neighbors escape poverty," said Shen.

In 2024, he spearheaded the planting of 20,000 mu (1,333.33 hectares) of oilseed rape by local farmers and provided over 500 kilograms of quality seeds free of charge to households that have been lifted out of poverty. In just one oilseed rape season, he helped farmers increase their income by over 20 million yuan ($2.79 million).

Shen Changjian, a deputy to the National People's Congress from Central China's Hunan province, works on oilseed rape plantation. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

In 2018, Shen was elected as an NPC deputy. While continuing to work as a farmer/scientist, he delved deeper into rural life, advocating for the concerns of farmers and rural communities and dedicating himself to contributing to vitalization in his hometown.

Reelected in 2023, he started his second five-year term as a national lawmaker. Over the past years, he has submitted 85 suggestions to the NPC sessions, reflecting his commitment to the well-being of farmers and rural development.

During a visit to a mountainous village in Lilin in October last year, Shen learned that the unprofitability of oilseed rape cultivation in hilly areas led to fallow farm fields in the season. He recognized the necessity of agricultural industrialization to unlock the full potential of oilseed rape planting in mountainous areas.

At this year's NPC session in March, Shen called for attention to the issue of oilseed rape production during deputies' group discussions.

He proposed organizing oilseed rape production through industrialized methods and a market-oriented approach and reducing production costs through agricultural mechanization.

His suggestions garnered significant attention from relevant authorities of the State Council and the Hunan Provincial People's Government, leading to substantial financial support for farmland renovation and agricultural infrastructure development in Lilin.

Shen Changjian, a deputy to the National People's Congress from Central China's Hunan province, checks rape flowers in the field. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

Growing up in rural settings, Shen has long been concerned about rural elderly care. In his numerous suggestions to the NPC sessions, he emphasized the importance of strengthening rural elderly care services, advocating for the development of social welfare and mutual aid organizations and increase of basic pension benefits for rural residents to address the needs of vulnerable elderly individuals.

His suggestions have prompted the Ministry of Civil Affairs to increase investment in the construction of nursing homes in rural areas, raise standards for rural elderly care pensions and commend exemplary figures in elder care to ensure a more dignified and fulfilling life for elderly residents in the countryside.

Shen Changjian (second from left), a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) from Central China's Hunan province, talks with his fellow villagers about the guiding principles of the NPC session. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

From providing technical guidance to local farmers to renovating ponds for villages at his own expense, Shen has spared no efforts to promote rural prosperity. "As an NPC deputy, it's my duty to translate the guiding principles of the Government Work Report into concrete actions," he said.  

Zhao Zhenqi and Hu Tingfei contributed to this story.