From little seedlings large profits grow

Red Sun Family Farm is owned by Nyima, a once-impoverished farmer who has not only transformed his own life but also uplifted many within his ethnic Tibetan community. He is considered a local "pioneer in prosperity".

The term is widely used by authorities to refer to individuals who lead by example in creating wealth or achieving financial success, often inspiring others to follow suit.

His journey to prosperity began 14 years ago with the cultivation of lingzhi.

Before that, there had been twists and turns in his business endeavors. In 2007, Nyima and his family of four were living in a modest 23-square-meter prefabricated home, struggling to make ends meet.

Seeking a change, he ventured into agricultural entrepreneurship. In 2008, Nyima took a loan of 150,000 yuan ($21,000) to establish a pig and chicken farm in his village. However, his business suffered due to a lack of knowledge about breeding techniques and an unfavorable market.

In 2010, authorities introduced policies aimed at developing Manling into a hub for medicinal herbs.

Sensing the business potential, Nyima shifted gears and founded a medicinal farm focusing on raising tianma, or Gastrodia elata, a herb related to orchids. The decision proved a big success, as he started earning a profit in the very first year.

Aided by the local government, Nyima in 2012 renamed the company Red Sun Family Farm, expanded its range of medicinal plants, and the business took off.

With a better financial standing, he thought about helping others. In 2016, at the height of China's fight against absolute poverty, he gave lingzhi seedlings to impoverished farmers to grow and offered to buy the harvests.

In 2021, Nyima was honored with a national award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for his contribution to poverty alleviation.

"We have established a sales network on the popular messaging app WeChat so that our herbs and fungi can be sold farther afield," he said.