Agricultural entrepreneurs visit Lizu village in Yiwu, Zhejiang province during a recent training session. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Zhejiang province, an economic powerhouse in East China, has trained more than 94,000 young agricultural entrepreneurs, or agri-makers, which is injecting fresh momentum into rural vitalization.

At a recent training session in Lizu village of Yiwu city, more than 70 agri-makers from across the province gathered to explore cutting-edge applications such as AI in agriculture, rural livestreaming, and global agricultural trends.

"The training was so practical. I was amazed by how AI can be applied in agriculture," said Ren Wenjun, a young agri-maker from Huzhou. "I'm eager to integrate it into my e-commerce business."

Zhejiang coined the term "agri-maker" in 2015 and launched a program in 2021 to train 100,000 by the end of 2025, aiming to benefit over 1 million farmers.

The province has built a comprehensive support system covering finance, land use and technical services to achieve the goal.

Upgraded financial products and services are helping reduce funding costs. Improved allocation of farmland has made more land available for new ventures. Local governments also provide agri-makers with generous incentives, including subsidies and healthcare and housing support.

Thanks to this ecosystem, once-remote villages like Lizu have transformed into vibrant cultural hubs. Over 70 agricultural businesses now operate in Lizu, generating an collective income of 1.53 million yuan ($213,268.23) for villagers last year.

Across Zhejiang, agri-makers are launching cultural tourism projects, specialty farm shops, and livestreaming platforms that boost local incomes and breathe new life into the countryside.