Lin Jiaru, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) from South China's Guangdong province, has made her own success story in transitioning from a media worker in the provincial capital Guangzhou to a "new farmer" who is fully dedicated to agricultural modernization in her rural hometown.

After graduating from university, Lin started working for a media organization in Guangzhou. Those days, her life was filled with all the hustle and bustle of city life, with a bright career path ahead. But a 2011 visit to her hometown of Wuyang township in Wuchuan city in Guangdong changed the trajectory of her life.

She recalled having very mixed feelings when she saw the vast stretches of neglected farmlands. "I grew up in the countryside and have a deep bond with the land. I feel a responsibility to contribute my part to rural vitalization," she said.

Motivated by this conviction, Lin gave up her well-paid job in Guangzhou and returned, investing her savings to establish Guangdong Dongnong Industry Co Ltd, an agricultural enterprise focusing on rice cultivation and farm produce processing.

Since then, Lin — trading her business attire for a straw hat and a hoe — has devoted herself to promoting agricultural modernization and helping her rural communities achieve common prosperity.

Lin Jiaru, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, works in the rice field. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

"To stand out in the market, we must offer high-quality products," Lin said. She ensures strict quality control across all stages of production, following fully green production standards. Her company's brand, which applies to rice, rice noodles and vegetables, has won popularity among consumers.

In 2022, Lin worked with the Guangdong Agricultural Technology Promotion Center and established demonstration sites for a green farming model in western Guangdong, integrating the cultivation of high-end fragrant rice and Tylorrhynchus, a type of worm widely used for fishbait, thus improving both land productivity and ecological efficiency.

Under her leadership, the company has grown into a leading modern agriculture enterprise that is engaged in the research, cultivation, storage, processing and sales of high-quality grain crops.

Beyond the success of her own business, Lin has also helped more than 1,800 local households cultivate premium rice, raising farmers' average annual income per mu from 800 yuan ($112.98) to 1,800 yuan.

In 2023, Lin was elected as a deputy to the 14th NPC. "To grow from an ordinary 'new farmer' into an NPC deputy reflects both the opportunity provided by the vast rural landscape and the trust placed by the people upon me," Lin said.

"I hope to revitalize this fertile land, ensure stable grain production and inspire more people to carry on the legacy of previous generations," she said. As an NPC deputy, she focuses on agricultural modernization and rural development and she has actively advocated for "stronger agriculture, more beautiful countryside and more prosperous farmers" in her hometown.

Food security is a matter of fundamental national importance, and arable land is the lifeline of grain production.

At the annual NPC sessions, she submitted suggestions on strengthening the categorization of crop types for national arable land to safeguard the country's food security.

She also called for accelerating the development of the "high-end fragrant rice and Tylorrhynchus" green farming model , underscoring its effectiveness in rehabilitating abandoned farmland, upgrading low-yield fields, enhancing rice cultivation and fostering green agricultural growth. Her suggestion sparked widespread attention and discussions.

Lin Jiaru (second from left), a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, participates in mediation of disputes at the joint mediation studio in Wuchuan Municipal People's Court. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

In addition to rural vitalization, Lin also pays close attention to grassroots social governance. She advocated promoting the "Fengqiao Experience" — a model of community-level social governance originating in Fengqiao town in East China's Zhejiang province — to enhance collaborative governance.

Her suggestion has received strong support from local Party committee and courts. In response, a joint mediation studio, with the participation of 28 departments including public security, procuratorate, court and market regulation, was established.

As of Nov 30, 2024, the studio had handled 2,234 conflicts and disputes of various types and successfully resolved 1,066 of them, involving over 40.41 million yuan. It has played a crucial role in maintaining grassroots social harmony.

Lin said that the people's courts should continue to collaborate with grassroots Party organizations, villagers' or residents' committees, mediation organizations and administrative organs to address minor disputes and neighborhood conflicts, enabling the public to have easier access to judicial services.

Lin Jiaru (third from left), a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, visits Shuguang School in Zhanjiang city, South China's Guangdong province, to learn about local efforts in the field of correctional education on June 25, 2025. [Photo provided to npc.gov.cn]

In Lin's view, rural vitalization is a grand and transformative undertaking requiring collective efforts. As an NPC deputy representing the grassroots, she is committed to fulfilling her duties, listening to farmers' voices and speaking up for them.

"Only by truly understanding what the people need, can we better fulfill the duties of an NPC deputy and contribute to the country's economic and social development," Lin said.