Tian Shuxian, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, is director of an ecological planting and breeding cooperative in Chibi, a city in central China's Hubei Province.
During this year's two sessions, Tian focused her attention on ecological and smart agriculture. She proposed accelerating the promotion, application and industrial development of low-altitude agricultural technologies, building high-standard national organic-agriculture demonstration zones, and empowering agriculture with technology, while laying an ecological foundation to support high-quality agricultural development.
Tian, a native of Anfeng, a village in Chibi, holds a master's degree in agriculture. She returned to her hometown, in 2017, to engage in agriculture. In 2024, the ecological circular model of "fungi-algae-rice-shrimp-duck" farming, developed by Tian, was included in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Ecological and Low-Carbon Food Systems Project.
Today, Tian's cooperative provides socialized services to more than 200 farmers or businesses, covering more than 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares) of land and helping to drive an output value of nearly 90 million yuan (US $12.86 million). Tian was named a National March 8th Red-Banner Holder in March 2026. Previously, she was named a Top 10 National Farmer and a National Model Worker. The cooperative has been awarded the title of a National Civilized Women's Post.
Tian says, under the guidance and support of the local women's federation, a women's federation for rural live streamers has been established in Anfeng Village, and it has organized women to learn various skills, such as live streaming and marketing. Tian has initiated a Firefly Plan, which has helped more than 200 women in the village find employment and increase their incomes. With Tian's help, some of the women have become skilled drone operators (for pest control), live streamers and/or local experts.
Tian believes intelligent techniques will drive agricultural development. Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree, in Artificial Intelligence and Smart Governance, at Renmin University of China (in Beijing). She also teaches at a "field school," where she shares her practical experiences to help more people.
"On the new journey of Chinese modernization, every woman is a star. In the future, I hope, and I believe, more women farmers will use new farming tools to demonstrate women's strength, and to promote rural revitalization through science and technology. We will write a new chapter of women's achievements in advancing Chinese modernization," says Tian.
Photos from Interviewee
(Source: Women of China)
Editor: Cui Rui
