Graduate students spread knowledge of agriculture
May 6,2023 China Daily

Postgraduate students from the Baizhai Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province, start off on a tricycle to promote agricultural knowledge. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The cradle of China's Science and Technology Backyard — a program under which university students can use their knowledge to help solve problems in agriculture in rural areas — was recently inaugurated in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province.

The Baizhai Science and Technology Backyard was founded by Beijing-based China Agricultural University in Quzhou in 2009. In the "backyard" — several rural style houses with a yard in Gaozhuang village of Baizhai town — professors and graduate students from the university have continued their research.

Working with farmers, they carry out research activities that center on technology transfer and enable small holders to achieve higher returns with better environmental stewardship, according to an article published in the journal Nature in 2016 by related professors and students.

Since the beginning of the program, the university has developed 139 Science and Technology Backyard projects in 24 provincial-level regions across the country, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Postgraduate students from the Baizhai Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province, discuss their work. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Postgraduate students from the Baizhai Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province, take a photo together in the backyard. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A postgraduate student from the Baizhai Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county, Handan, Hebei province, talks about agricultural principles with a local farmer. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Li Xiaolin, a professor at China Agricultural University, gives instructions for managing wheat fields to postgraduate students from the Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Li Xiaolin, a professor at China Agricultural University, gives instructions for managing wheat fields to postgraduate students from the Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Li Xiaolin, a professor at China Agricultural University, gives instructions for managing wheat fields to postgraduate students from the Science and Technology Backyard in Quzhou county of Handan, Hebei province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Editor: Li Shi