Imagine a village where the wisdom of the past meets the innovation of the future. That's the essence of the immersion program I experienced in Yixian county, Hebei province, China. From November 29th to December 2nd, I, along with 20 international students from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, had the privilege of witnessing a remarkable story of rural revitalization, spearheaded by the College of Humanities and Development Studies at China Agricultural University (CAU). This trip was more than just a visit; it was a deep dive into the heart of agrarian transformation and social policy at the grassroots level.
Our journey led us to Sanggang village, a place about 60 kilometers from Yixian and 190 kilometers from Beijing. This village, home to 221 households and 652 residents, is a living testament to the traditional agricultural lifestyle of the region. Here, you'll find villagers crafting traditional delicacies like sweet potato noodles, flatbreads, marinated tofu, and persimmon cakes – all deeply woven into the local culture. But like many rural communities, Sanggang faces the challenge of its younger generation seeking opportunities in bustling cities like Beijing and Tianjin.
Sanggang's transformation began in 1996, when CAU scholars, led by Professor Ye Jingzhong, initiated a long-term collaboration with the local government. The period from 2000 to 2010 saw the team working on village construction, infrastructure improvements, and building rural capacity.
What sets this partnership apart? It's the emphasis on participatory, community-driven development, a stark contrast to the top-down approaches common in conventional development models. Instead of treating villagers as passive recipients, the project actively involved them in decision-making, fostering a more empowered and cohesive rural society.
The second major phase, from 2010 to 2020, focused on smallholder-based poverty alleviation through the innovative "nested market" system. This system was designed to rebuild trust between producers and consumers by eliminating middlemen and creating direct connections. At Sanggang's village commodity collection center, each agricultural product proudly displays the producer's name. This simple yet powerful measure ensures accountability and reinforces the identity and pride of smallholder farmers. Consumers can directly contact the producer if they have any concerns, thanks to the information on the product tag.
Professor Ye once encapsulated the philosophy behind this approach, stating, "Targeted poverty alleviation must step out of traditional stereotypes and pay attention to the features, potential, and agency of small farmers."
Another impressive achievement is Sanggang's terraced land rehabilitation project. Barren hillsides, once used only for gathering firewood, have been transformed into 153 mu (10.2 hectares) of productive farmland under collective village ownership.
But here's where it gets controversial... This project was funded by a southern Chinese city through a national land policy that links urban expansion with rural farmland protection. It was my first time seeing such a mechanism in practice: when cities grow, they are required to support rural land restoration accordingly. The result is a win-win model that links urban development with rural revitalization. Do you think this model could be replicated in other countries?
Learning Through Service
One of the most inspiring aspects of the trip was meeting CAU postgraduate students stationed in Sanggang for long-term fieldwork. Beyond their academic research, they actively manage the nested market, maintain collective assets, and support village governance.
"We come to the village to understand society through service and practice, and to reflect on what we learned in the classroom," shared Ma Luyao, a PhD student based in the village.
Students who live and work alongside villagers gain insights no classroom can provide, allowing them to design solutions grounded in real-world needs. This model of immersive, hands-on education builds a deep understanding of rural realities — something I've found profoundly lacking in many developing countries, including my own, Ethiopia.
I've traveled through many rural areas in Ethiopia, yet I've rarely seen universities translate research into tangible, lasting change. Too often, our studies end up as reports gathering dust, disconnected from the lives they aim to improve. Sanggang, by contrast, demonstrates that when universities, local governments, and villagers collaborate, they can build a model of rural development that is practical, sustainable, and truly rooted in community needs.
Walking through the village, I witnessed elderly farmers confidently managing high-value agricultural cooperatives, their sense of ownership evident in every decision. I stood on hillsides once barren and eroded, now reshaped into fertile terraces. And I spoke with young graduate students who had become integral to the village, serving as researchers, organizers, and caretakers of collective assets. Their presence symbolized a rare kind of learning — one grounded in daily service, shared struggles, and genuine human connection.
Written by Lemi Chala Tamire, an Ethiopian PhD candidate in development studies at China Agricultural University. He is also a lecturer and researcher at Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He earned his master's degree in rural development and management studies at CAU from *2017** to 2019.*
